Unstoppable Al Hilal sweep aside Al Ittihad to lift Saudi Super Cup in Abu Dhabi

Seemingly unstoppable, Al Hilal’s world-record winners captured the first of what could be four trophies this season.

The Riyadh club saw off Al Ittihad in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night; Malcom, Salem Al Dawsari and namesake Nasser Al Dawsari scoring the goals that secured the Saudi Super Cup in the UAE capital.

Hilal, runaway leaders of the current Saudi Pro League, defeated the reigning top-flight champions 4-1 at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, the competition’s inaugural run in the Emirates concluding with a familiar victor.

Hilal now have four Super Cup titles, another unprecedented tally to go with their record-extending, and barely believable, 34th consecutive triumph. They last failed to win a match way back when, in September.

With a 12-point lead in the Saudi Pro League, an Asian Champions League semi-final to come against Al Ain, and the King’s Cup to contest too, it is shaping up to be a truly remarkable season for the seasoned silverware stockpilers.

Having dispatched crosstown foes Al Nassr in the Super Cup last four at the same venue on Monday, Hilal needed only four minutes on Thursday to tilt the final in their favour.

Seizing the ball not far into the Ittihad half, Malcom slalomed past two opponents – the latter of which was N’Golo Kante – exchanged a one-two at pace with Saleh Al Shehri, and finished with aplomb under goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf. Sitting in the stands, injured teammate Neymar pumped his fist in celebration.

It marked Malcom’s fourth goal against Ittihad this campaign; they must be sick of the sight of him. To be fair, the Brazilian had been in excellent form all round of late: this was his sixth goal in the past seven matches. On a personal level at least, it’s been a debut season to