In a match described as nervous and exciting and filled with objections to refereeing decisions and clashes, Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal beat local rivals Al Ittihad 3-1 to qualify for the semifinals of the Arab Club Championship on Saturday.
Sergej Milinkovic gave Savic the lead to Al-Hilal with a wonderful header in the 14th minute, amid objections to Qatari referee Abdul Rahman Al-Jassim from Al-Ittihad players for a violation just before scoring the goal.
Indeed, Milinkovic-Savic pushed his rival Zakariya Hawsawi before Ruben Neves took a corner kick with both hands to drop him to the ground clearly (pushing is one of the violations that require a direct free kick according to Article 12 of the Football Law) before he stepped forward and jumped to score the goal, which should have been canceled and a foul was awarded to Al-Hilal.
Savic's goal from another⚽️ angle #Al-Ittihad_Al-Hilal #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/4mbgG4EhsM
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
The 20th minute witnessed another controversial case that caused objections from Al Hilal players this time when the referee refused to calculate a penalty kick in their favor, despite the presence of obstruction without the defender touching the ball, as the striker dribbled and passed the ball to himself, but he failed to catch it as a result of blocking him from the thigh.
Hilaliya claims for a penalty #Al-Ittihad_Al-Hilal #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/BsTED0jwLL
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
The referee awarded a penalty kick to Al-Hilal in favor of striker Michel Delgado after an obstruction from Grohe, from which Salem Al-Dosari scored the second goal in stoppage time of the first half after strong objections from Al-Ittihad players and his goalkeeper, who denied committing any violation.
Salem Al-Dosari adds the second goal for Al-Hilal#Al-Ittihad_Al-Hilal⚽️ #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/H37O1ajyPs
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
Al Jassem's decision was correct because the striker played the ball and the goalkeeper failed to touch it and then recklessly obstructed the striker with his left foot and knocked him to the ground.
The moment of calculating a penalty kick for Al-Hilal#Al-Ittihad_Al-Hilal#King_Salman_Cup_for_Clubs | #SSC pic.twitter.com/xXzwhWWk2r
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
Brazilian Romarinho revived the hopes of the fans of the Union when he reduced the deficit after 11 minutes of the break.
Romarinho reduces the result for the Union⚽#الاتحاد_الهلال #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/RtjFKdqmxm
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
But newcomer Malcom sealed Al Hilal's victory in the 70th minute with a header behind Al Ittihad defenders from a cross to his colleague Yasser Al Shahrani.
Malcolm.. First imprint in El Clásico⚽️ #Al-Ittihad_Al-Hilal #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/UrKxW0D7ek
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
The 75th minute witnessed the peak of excitement when the Al-Ittihad striker was obstructed inside the Al-Hilal penalty area, but the referee did not count it, and ordered the resumption of play until the video assistant technology referee (VAR) drew his attention to the presence of a clear obstruction from the Al-Hilal defender, who did not touch the ball and recklessly attacked his opponent's foot and deserved a warning as well because he is not in competition for the ball, but only wanted to obstruct it.
Indeed, Al Jassim awarded a penalty kick to Al Ittihad, but French star Karim Benzema shot it at the post to waste the opportunity for his team to return to the match and facilitate the task of Al Hilal in maintaining the victory.
The referee awards a penalty to the Etihad🥅#الاتحاد_الهلال #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/yF8JrKAvKk
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
Benzema misses penalty🥅#الاتحاد_الهلال #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/nzSg0GljJa
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
The strange thing is that despite the many objections to refereeing and clashes between the players of the two teams, the referee did not issue any card throughout the match, which deserved more than a yellow card due to misconduct or recklessness as stipulated in Article 12 (foul and misconduct).
Savic and Sharahili #UnionCrescent#كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/GFco6L1Uhw
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
Al-Hilal awaits the winner of the match against Saudi Al-Shabab and Al-Wahda, which will be held on Sunday.
Michael and Jota shot in the first half #Al-Ittihad_Al-Hilal #كأس_الملك_سلمان_للأندية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/pLXGkJLIOV
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) August 5, 2023
- Former international referee