Soccer
Darwin Nunez’s first goal in the Saudi Pro League was not enough for Al-Hilal to overcome Al-Qadsiah, as the hosts needed a Ruben Neves penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw.
Having opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Al-Riyadh prior to the international break, Simone Inzaghi’s team were given a stern examination by last season’s fourth-placed finishers.
Christopher Bonsu Baah tucked home for the visitors in the sixth minute, after Al-Hilal were guilty of overplaying near the edge of their own area.
That was Al-Qadsiah’s only shot on target during the opening 45 minutes, but they reached the interval 1-0 up, with Nunez wasting one excellent headed chance.
But the former Liverpool man did get his first goal since making a £46m move to the Gulf in the 49th minute, finishing left-footed after Malcolm motored down the right to cross.
Al-Hilal were only level for 77 seconds, though, as Julian Quinones swept home following a brilliant one-two with Nahitan Nandez.
The hosts did get back on level terms via a Neves spot-kick in the 73rd minute, after Bonsu Baah fouled Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, but they were unable to find a later winner.
Al-Hilal and Al-Qadsiah both have four points from their opening two games of the season, but Al-Khaleej lead the table with six points after a 3-0 win over Al-Feiha earlier on Saturday. Elsewhere, Musa Barrow scored twice as Al-Taawoun beat Al-Okhdood 3-2.
Data Debrief: Nunez strikes, but other chances go begging
Nunez earned a reputation for letting big chances go to waste during his time at Anfield, and though he got off the mark for his new team on Saturday, it was a similar story.
Nunez led all players on the pitch for shots (six) and touches in the opposing penalty area (nine), with two big chances falling his way, as defined by Opta.
He was wayward with a headed opportunity worth 0.53 expected goals (xG) in the 10th minute, though he did tuck home from a chance with an xG value of 0.22 after the break.
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