Al-Hilal Derby joy: 5 things we learned from the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup

The quarter-finals of the King’s Cup took place on Monday with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Shabab and Al-Feiha making it through into the last four. Here are five things we learned from the four games that all finished 2-1.

This is a harder-working Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal came from behind to defeat Al-Nassr 2-1 in what was a no-holds barred Riyadh Derby. The tackles were flying in from the first minute to the last and the biggest surprise was that both teams finished the game with 11 men, though the ref was busy with eight bookings. Hilal’s center-back Ali Al-Bulaihi was lucky to escape red before the break and had the Algerian referee sent the player off, it could all have been very different.

Both teams kept going until the end and the Asian champions showed their ability to beat their rivals in the big games, but it could have gone either way.  Odion Ighalo equalized Talisca’s opener with a thundering header on the hour. With 10 minutes remaining, Abdulelah Al-Amri seemed to push Salem Al-Dawsari over in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. There were fierce protests from the men in yellow.

Al-Hilal were just about the better team and it was noticeable how, under new coach Ramon Diaz, they worked harder than before in defending as a team, which started with the much-heralded attacking players getting involved. 

Al-Nassr need to use anger to focus on the league

The nine-time champions exited the competition after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Hilal but were left furious at what they saw as poor refereeing decisions costing them the game. They have some reason to be aggrieved. Al-Bulaihi could have been sent off before the break, which would have left them one goal and one man up. Then the penalty was hugely