UAE superstar Omar Abdulrahman had a hand in Al Hilal’s second-half revival as they roared back to defeat Al Fateh 3-2 in a helter-skelter Saudi Professional League match.
Venezuela centre forward Gelmin Rivas was on hand deep into injury time to tap home the champions’ winner and spark wild scenes at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium on Monday night.
The Crescent initially responded after Tunisia utility man Abdelkader Oueslati’s penalty on the stroke of half-time. By 62 minutes, Abdulrahman had played key passes in the build-up to close-range volleys from France striker Bafetimbi Gomis and Brazil midfielder Carlos Eduardo.
Uruguay right-back Matias Aguirregaray would soon slot in a second spot-kick for the hosts to level things up. This was a task Gomis could not successfully complete on 75 minutes, the summer buy from Galatasaray spooning his effort wide from 12 yards.
Hilal’s perfect start to the campaign appeared at an end, only for substitutes Mohammad Al Shalhoub – Amoory’s replacement – and Rivas to combine to dramatic effect in the 94th minute.
Here, we analyse the performance of 2016 AFC Player of the Year Abdulrahman as he continues to get used to new employers after his landmark summer defection from Al Ain.
KEY MOMENTS
59th min PASS: After a quiet first-half, Amoory slips in Hassan Kadesh, with the left-back’s cross being met by Gomis’ head to make it 1-1.
62nd min PASS: Amoory races onto a loose ball, feints, and intelligently sends Saudi Arabia centre midfielder Salman Al Faraj into the clear out wide. His deflected centre is bundled in by Eduardo to put Hilal ahead.
64th min MISS: A scuffed effort wide, when well placed, from Abdulrahman ends the momentum for Jorge Jesus’ resurgent visitors.
82nd min CHANCE: The side netting denies him a free-kick from the edge of the area.
88th min MISS: Again, Amoory should do so much better. Al Faraj repays the favour from a corner, but the shot is embarrassingly under-hit and Dynamo Kiev loanee Maksym Koval easily gathers it up.
90+1 min SUB: In a game-changing move, Jesus replaces the tired Abdulrahman for Al Shalhoub.
30-SECOND REPORT
Amoory’s integration back into his boyhood club continues apace.
His deft touches and 360-degree vision opened up the match and sparked Hilal’s first two goals. The 26-year-old should have got on the score sheet himself, but the authority of his thumping strike near-post strike against Al Raed was absent – twice.
Jesus is increasingly delegating responsibility to Amoory to set the tempo. After a summer of inactivity because of his protracted exit from the Garden City, the signs continue to point to a greater role in future weeks.
GOT RIGHT
Making it count – Huge pressure envelops the Hilal players whenever they take to the field. Swathes of the Kingdom expect, when their heroes take to the field.
With a low threshold for failure, a half-time deficit was anything but welcome. Amoory smelled blood twice and used his technical acumen to tee up scruffy goals.
GOT WRONG
Fluffing his lines – Abdulrahman’s playmaking abilities – when on top form – are without compare in Asia. It is with his goalscoring that deficiencies remain.
For club and country, it remains three strikes in his last 11 run-outs. Considering how often he gets into excellent positions, this figure should be greater.
VERDICT
This was not a perfect display, but Amoory surely left the field feeling he’s getting up to speed at the Riyadh giants.
Some extra work on the training field mastering finishing would not go amiss before Saturday’s Arab Club Champions Cup first-round decider at Oman’s Al Shabab.
RATING: 7/10