Al-Kholood 1-3 Al-Hilal: Hernandez at the double to send visitors second

Theo Hernandez’s brace helped Al-Hilal to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Al-Kholood, moving them within two points of Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Nassr.

Al-Kholood pegged back their visitors on the stroke of half-time despite their numerical disadvantage, but two moments of quality from Hernandez sealed the match.

Juan Pablo Cozzani comfortably held Marcos Leonardo’s audacious overhead kick from the edge of the box, before Al-Kholood upped the pressure, with Ramiro Enrique forcing Mohammed Al Yami into a smart save at the other end.

But shortly after, in the 37th minute, Abdulrahman Al Dosari was shown a straight red card following a VAR review, having caught Leonardo high on the calf.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic then gave Al-Hilal the lead in the 45th minute, guiding his long-range shot into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the D.

However, he then gave away a penalty after a handball, which Enrique confidently dispatched in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

It was all Al-Hilal after that, though, with Hernandez restoring their lead in the 61st minute when he latched onto the rebound of Milinkovic-Savic’s saved shot and fired in from the left of the box.

He then secured all three points 23 minutes later, with the Serbian knocking it to him to change the angle of the free-kick, and Hernandez then slotted into the bottom-left corner.

points from Buraidah pic.twitter.com/fUqYDHKwMI

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) December 31, 2025

Elsewhere, Al-Qadsiah held on for a 3-2 win over Al-Shabab, despite conceding a late penalty, with Nahitan Nandez’s goal ultimately proving the winner.

Data Debrief: Hernandez and Milinkovic-Savic are shining lights

Hernandez had already scored three goals this season, but added to that tally with a clinical attacking display at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

He had a team-high five shots (level with Milinkovic-Savic), scoring with both of his efforts on target, but it was the Serb who stole the show as he also created three chances.

Al-Hilal have now scored in each of their last 81 Saudi Pro League matches (232 goals in total), scoring 3+ goals in 44 of them.

And they outperformed their expected goals (xG) tally here, accumulating 2.11 xG from 24 shots to Al-Kholood’s 1.12 from 11 attempts.