Latest news with #AsianPlayeroftheYear
Saudi Gazette
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Al Hilal renews Salem Al Dawsari's contract until 2027
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Hilal have announced the contract renewal of club captain Salem Al Dawsari, extending his stay until the summer of 2027. The agreement comes just months before the expiration of his previous deal, which had entered its final six months in January. The renewal follows prolonged negotiations, with the club determined to meet Al Dawsari's demands and secure the future of one of its most influential players. The winger reportedly received competitive offers, including a two-year deal from Al Qadsiah and a three-year proposal from Al Diriyah. Ultimately, Al Hilal retained his services with a two-year extension. Al Dawsari, 32, has enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career, leading by example both on and off the pitch. He was crowned the top scorer of the AFC Champions League Elite, while also netting 15 goals in the Saudi Pro League so far this season, with two rounds still to impact has gone beyond scoring, contributing regularly in assists and key chances created. To mark the renewal, Al Hilal released a video titled ' The story continues...' on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. The montage highlighted key milestones in Al Dawsari's career — including his iconic goal against Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his continental triumph with Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League, and his 2022 Asian Player of the Year award.
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Impressive Al-Ahli down Al-Hilal to move into Champions League Asian final
JEDDAH: Al-Ahli beat Al-Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday to move into the final of the AFC Champions League Elite. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport FULL TIME Al-Ahli Al-Hilal WE'RE IN THE FINAL! #الأهلي_الهلال #ACLElite — Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) April 29, 2025 Beating four-time winners Al-Hilal means that there is nothing to fear for Al-Ahli and it took just nine minutes for the fans to start celebrating. Galeno broke down the left, racing on to a fine pass and just about reached the ball before it went out of play. The Brazilian, signed in January from Porto, sent over a first-time cross for compatriot Roberto Firmino to sweep home from close range. There were calls for offside but to the dismay of the Riyadh giants they were not upheld. There were more chances, such as Ivan Toney's shot that went just wide after 18 minutes, as Al-Ahli continued to look the more dangerous. Then, just before the half-hour, it was 2-0. Riyad Mahrez picked up the ball in a central position and slipped a perfect pass to the left side of the area. It was picked up by Toney who feinted past Yassine Bounou in goal and rolled the ball into an empty net. For a while, that seemed to be that. The Greens were on top and heading into the final but Al-Hilal are not the most successful team in Saudi Arabia and Asia for nothing. This is a team, especially in continental competitions, that never knows when it is beaten. Three minutes before the break, Salem Al-Dawsari, one of the best players in Asia, halved the deficit. For anyone who has watched Saudi Arabian football in recent years, it was a familiar goal. The ball bounced off a white-shirted defender and there was the 2022 Asian Player of the Year to pick up possession and sweep a low shot home for his 10th of the tournament. Al-Hilal were looking dangerous and just minutes before the break Malcom should have fired home at the far post to equalize from close range. At halftime, it was anyone's game but early in the second period, Toney saw two goals ruled out for offside. Then, on the hour, a tough situation for Al-Hilal became a major problem. They were reduced to 10 men as Kalidou Koulibaly was red-carded for a second booking. Despite the Blues' continental pedigree it was always going to be tough and while they poured forward in desperate search of the all-important equalizer, it was not to be. Al-Ahli continued to look the more dangerous and were denied by the woodwork on more than one occasion. With five minutes remaining it should have been all over. Hamid Al-Yami was judged to have brought down Mahrez in the area. Up stepped Franck Kessie to seal the win but it was a tame shot from the Ivorian and was well saved by Bounou. For once, Al-Hilal did not punish such a mistake. Eight minutes into added time, the victory — one of the most important in Al-Ahli's history — was sealed thanks to substitute Firas Al-Buraikan. It led to huge celebrations for many of the 50,000 crowd and the biggest prize in the world's biggest continent is now just 90 minutes away.
Arab News
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
SPL title race blown wide open as Al-Ittihad lose and Al-Hilal win
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad lost 2-0 at Al-Fateh on a dramatic day of Saudi Pro League action, while closest rivals Al-Hilal defeated Al-Khaleej 3-0 to blow the title race wide open with just six games left to play. Al-Ittihad's lead at the top of the table has been cut to just four points, and given that Al-Hilal's goal difference is far superior, there is a lot to play for. Al-Hilal were the first of the top two to play and made the most of the opportunity to put the league leaders under pressure. Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring after 26 minutes. Kaio Cesar twisted and turned in the area and the Brazilian's pass to the left-hand corner of the six-yard area was swiftly converted by the 2022 Asian Player of the Year. With six minutes of the game remaining, the Saudi international struck again to seal the win. Aleksandar Mitrovic found Al-Dawsari on the edge of the area, who took a touch and then slotted home. There was still enough time for Mitrovic to remove all doubt about the result. The victory meant Al-Ittihad had to win to restore their advantage at the top of the league. However it was Amine Sbai who opened the scoring for Al-Fateh after just 10 minutes, shooting high into the net from just inside the area. Ten minutes before the break Mourad Batna missed a chance to put his team further ahead from the spot. The Moroccan must have felt a bit better about his miss nine minutes later when Al-Ittihad midfielder Fabinho saw his penalty, after a handball in the area, saved by Nawaf Al-Aqidi. And so the score remained 1-0 (though Karim Benzema had a goal ruled out for offside just after the hour mark) until the 69th minute, when Matias Vargas ran onto to a long ball over the top from deep and slotted past Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Mahasneh. That was the end of the scoring and the victory moved Al-Fateh into 13th place in the league, four points clear of the relegation places. Third-place Al-Nassr have a chance to pile more pressure onto Al-Ittihad on Saturday, as a win at Al-Qadsiah would move them within five points of the leaders.
Arab News
04-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Al-Dawsari the star as Al-Hilal return to top of AFC Champions League Elite group
RIYADH: Al-Hilal strolled to a 4-1 home victory over Iranian side Persepolis on Tuesday to return to the top of their AFC Champions League Elite qualifying group with one game remaining. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Eternal pride, forever blue — AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) February 4, 2025 The remainder of the first half was the Salem Al-Dawsari show. With seven minutes remaining, the lively Malcom slipped the ball through a crowded area for Al-Dawsari, the 2022 Asian Player of the Year, to skip past the goalkeeper and slot home from the narrowest of angles. His second, and his team's fourth, was the best of the night. A minute into first-half stoppage time, Cancelo sent over a beautiful pass from the touchline that made it all the way to a central position, just outside the area, and there was Al-Dawsari charging up to blast the ball into the top corner with the most fluent of first-time shots. With the game already won, the second half was a much quieter affair. Two minutes from the end, though, Persepolis were awarded a penalty when Ali Al-Bulaihi, who had just come on as a substitute, brought down Issa Alkasir. Giorgi Gvelesiani stepped up to give his team a consolation goal. This could not spoil the night for Al-Hilal, however, who have 19 points from a possible 21. The result also meant that the penultimate round of games in the group stage was another perfect one for all three representatives of the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr winning on Monday. Al-Ahli trail Al-Hilal only on goal difference, while Al-Nassr are three points behind on 16 points and guaranteed at least third place in the group.
