Ighalo double dents Ronaldo’s title dreams as Al-Hilal defeat Al-Nasser in Riyadh derby

The cheers rang around King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Tuesday night and surely there must have been similar celebrations over in Jeddah.

Al-Hilal had just defeated Al-Nassr 2-0 in a contentious Riyadh Derby, thanks to two penalties from Odion Ighalo, but perhaps the real victors were Al-Ittihad, who remain three points clear of second-place Al-Nassr at the top of the Roshn Saudi League and now have a game in hand.

Al-Nassr have only six matches remaining and so the loss was a huge blow to their hopes of winning title number 10 — and even Cristiano Ronaldo might not be able to do anything about it. He gave everything on the night but cut a forlorn figure as he walked down the tunnel after the final whistle, waved gleefully on his way by thousands of delighted Al-Hilal fans.

The victory was well deserved as Al-Hilal were the better team for much of the game, though the visitors will point to the intervention of the video assistant referee in denying them twice in the second half: First by ruling a Ronaldo goal offside on what looked like a very tight call indeed, and then with a penalty decision.

The result means that Al-Hilal remain in fourth place in the league, seven points behind Al-Ittihad having played two games more. The defending champions are effectively out of the running for top spot after some indifferent form of late but they certainly enjoyed this game and denting the chances of their rivals.

The victory will also stand Ramon Diaz’s men in good stead for 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.

Al-Nassr, playing their first game since the departure of Rudi Garcia as head coach, struggled to