Al Hilal hit Al Khaleej for five in first-half Saudi Pro League rout

Al Hilal scored five times before half-time as they swept aside Al Khaleej 5-1 at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium on Friday, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou later taking centre stage by saving a controversial penalty.

The result moved Al Hilal up to second in the Saudi Pro League with nine points from three matches, while Al Khaleej remain 13th on three points.

Al Hilal established control from the opening stages and took the lead after 15 minutes. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic delivered an accurate cross from the left, and Mite met it with a powerful header that found the net.

The visitors continued to unsettle Al Khaleej with their attacking movement, particularly through Crysencio Summerville. The pressure produced a second goal in the 29th minute when the Dutchman made a superb run before setting up Milinkovic-Savic, who finished first time.

Al Khaleej responded after a difficult opening half-hour. Al-Saadi tested the Al Hilal defence in the 36th minute, and the home side pulled a goal back two minutes later.

Crespo broke clear and was denied by Bounou, but the goalkeeper could not prevent Saleh Al-Omari from following up with a header into the net.

Al Hilal restored their two-goal advantage almost immediately. Theo Hernandez struck a fierce effort from inside the penalty area in the 40th minute to score his first goal of the season.

Summerville then produced the outstanding individual moment of the first half. After receiving a pass from Ruben Neves, he twice dribbled past his marker, Al-Asiri, before rounding off the move with a composed finish in the 43rd minute.

The punishment was not over for Al Khaleej. In the third minute of stoppage time, Sultan Mandash added a fifth after beating goalkeeper Morris and calmly placing the ball into the empty net.

Al Hilal resumed the second half in the same attacking mood. Mandash went close to completing the scoring in the 47th minute, sending an effort narrowly wide of the post.

Summerville continued to threaten and had further opportunities in the 54th and 61st minutes. Al Khaleej also created a chance when Crespo shot at goal, but Bounou was able to keep it out.

The match then produced a contentious refereeing decision in the 64th minute. Bounou played a goal kick to team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly, who picked up the ball to reposition it, apparently believing play had not restarted.

The referee judged that the ball had already been put into play and awarded Al Khaleej a penalty. The decision was reviewed and backed by the video assistant referee.

Bounou then provided the decisive moment from the spot, saving Musa Barrow’s penalty in his characteristically assured fashion to prevent Al Khaleej reducing the deficit.

Al Hilal continued to look for a sixth goal, but Al Khaleej survived the remaining attacks. Summerville came closest in stoppage time when he broke through on goal, only for his shot to strike the post.

The score remained 5-1 until the final whistle, completing a dominant victory for Al Hilal and leaving Al Khaleej with a heavy defeat despite their second-half efforts.