Watkins announces Al-Hilal arrival with late header in Al-Ahli win

Ollie Watkins took just 40 minutes to make his mark for Al-Hilal, scoring on his debut as his new side beat Al-Ahli 3-0 in the Saudi Roshn League.

The England striker, who joined Al-Hilal from Aston Villa for about €60m less than 48 hours before the match, came off the bench at half-time in Tuesday’s postponed fixture from the third round.

Watkins completed the scoring four minutes before the end of normal time, rising to meet a cross from team-mate Sultan Al-Mandash and directing a well-taken header into the net.

It was a memorable first appearance for the 29-year-old, who had only just arrived at the club before being involved in the Riyadh contest at Kingdom Arena. His goal also gave Al-Hilal a convincing victory in a fixture between two of Saudi Arabia’s leading clubs.

Watkins entered the match at the start of the second half, with Al-Hilal already in control of the contest. He then made his opportunity count late on, finishing the move created by Al-Mandash to give the home supporters an immediate reason to celebrate their new signing.

The forward’s first goal for Al-Hilal came in front of his England team-mate Ivan Toney, the Al-Ahli striker who had previously found the net against Al-Hilal in earlier meetings between the clubs.

Watkins’ arrival from Aston Villa had attracted considerable attention, given the size of the transfer fee and the speed with which he was introduced to his new team. Rather than waiting for his first full match, he made an impact during his first 40 minutes on the pitch.

The result lifted Al-Hilal to the top of the Saudi Roshn League table. They now have 12 points, the same total as their city rivals Al-Nassr, but lead the standings on goal difference.

Al-Ahli were unable to respond after Watkins’ late effort, and Al-Hilal secured all three points without conceding. The match had been rearranged from the third round of the competition and was played on Tuesday at Kingdom Arena.

For Watkins, the evening provided an ideal start to his Al-Hilal career. After arriving from Aston Villa only days earlier, he helped complete a 3-0 win and quickly introduced himself to the club’s supporters with a decisive contribution in the Saudi classic.