Al-Hilal Saudi FC vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 2-0

Al-Hilal Saudi FC beat Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 2-0 at Kingdom Arena, with Ollie Watkins scoring twice. The home side led from the 6th minute and extended that advantage just after the break.

Watkins opened the scoring in the 6th minute from Kalidou Koulibaly's assist to make it 1-0. Al-Hilal then lost Sabri Dahal to a yellow card on 17 minutes and made three first-half changes. Dahal was replaced by Mohammed Mahzari on 28 minutes, Saimon Bouabre went off for Nasser Al-Dawsari on 35 minutes, and Mohamed Kader Meïté and Moteb Al-Harbi were both withdrawn at half-time for Sultan Mandash and Theo Hernandez. Watkins was booked on 38 minutes, while Sardar Azmoun was booked for the visitors on 43 minutes. The half-time score was 1-0.

Al-Hilal doubled their lead on 46 minutes when Watkins scored his second of the match from Yusuf Akcicek's assist to make it 2-0. Shabab Al Ahli had already made a change at the break, with Mohammad Juma replaced by Juan Alvina, and they made two more on 58 minutes before further substitutions on 74 and 82 minutes, but they did not find a way back. Al-Hilal also made a late change on 82 minutes, with Ali Lajami replaced by Hassan Al-Tambakti.

The statistics backed up the result without showing a landslide. Al-Hilal had 53% of the possession, 562 passes to Shabab Al Ahli's 505, and a 1.43 to 0.27 edge in expected goals. They also won 3 corners to 1 and had 3 offsides to 2, while Shabab Al Ahli committed 5 fouls to Al-Hilal's 17.

There were two yellow cards for each side and no red cards. Sabri Dahal and Ollie Watkins were booked for Al-Hilal, while Sardar Azmoun and Igor Gomes were booked for Shabab Al Ahli.