April 19, (THEWILL) – Al-Hilal defeated Al-Nassr 2-0 in a controversial Riyadh Derby on Tuesday night, thanks to two penalties from Odion Ighalo.
The controversies related to two VAR decisions, which the visitors contested as these decisions went against them twice in the second half. The first decision ruled a Ronaldo goal offside, while the second one was a penalty that Ighalo converted for his brace.
Playing their first game since the departure of head coach, Rudi Garcia, Al-Nassr struggled to find top gear. Ronaldo exerted extra effort to get his teammates going but the goals did not materialise. The Blues also failed to take the lead midway through the first half when the chance opened. Moussa Marega’s header from close range was parried to Ighalo but he put the ball wide from inside the six-yard area.
Early in the second half, Ighalo scored the first penalty, and he added another one later in the game. Al-Nassr will be disappointed with their performance and will need to regroup for their remaining matches. The win could give Ramon Diaz’s men the confidence they need ahead of next week’s King’s Cup semi-final against Al-Ittihad and the AFC Champions League final first leg against Japan’s Urawa Reds on April 29.
Meanwhile, the result left Al-Ittihad three points clear at the top of the Roshn Saudi League with a game in hand. Al-Nassr, who only have six matches left, suffered a huge blow to their hopes of winning their 10th title. Even Cristiano Ronaldo could not help his team as he left the pitch with a forlorn expression. Al-Hilal, however, remains in fourth place in the league, seven points behind Al-Ittihad.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
