Al Hilal coach Inzaghi hails deserved win over Al Hazem, rues missed chances

Al Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi expressed his delight after his team’s victory over Al Hazem on Saturday in the tenth round of the Saudi Pro League, commending his players’ performance despite the late winning goal.

Al Hilal secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against Al Hazem, with the decisive goal coming in the 89th minute at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, ahead of their upcoming top-of-the-table clash with Qadsiah.

Inzaghi said: "We earned a deserved win and could have scored more, as we had 21 shots compared to just one from our opponents. Luck was not on our side to increase the score, amid missing many clear chances. Nevertheless, our players were fully present throughout the match."

For his part, Al Hazem coach Jalel Kadri of Tunisia expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance against Al Hilal, stressing that his players delivered an excellent match and they exerted great effort.

He said: "We played an excellent match in all aspects. We knew how to deal with Al Hilal’s strengths and did not allow them to play comfortably. We also missed several chances, and in the end, a lack of focus cost us the result."

He added: "The team’s level today and in previous games is reassuring and gives a positive outlook for the future. I have great confidence in the group, and for me, performance is the key measure — the most ready player will always play."