Former Saudi League champions and AFC Champions League qualifiers Al Hilal registered a hard fought 2-1 win against Al Wahda in the third round of Saudi League.

The win was the third for Al Hilal who climbed to the top of the standings to join defending champions Al Ittihad who were away on Champions League duty against Pakhtakor on the same night. Al Hilal took the lead after only seven minutes through their striker Yasser Al Qahtani who received a long pass from Brazilian midfielder Thiago Neves before going into the area and scoring with a powerful shot.

Al Hilal doubled their advantage in the first minute of stoppage time through Mohamad Al Shalhoub who converted a cross from Abdulla Al Dossary with a first-time shot from just inside the area. Al Wahda pulled a goal back seven minutes into the second half through Tareq Al Muwallad who scored with a looping header from a corner but Al Wahda could not stop Al Hilal registering their third consecutive win this season.

Elsewhere, a brace from Nassir Al Shamrani steered Al Shabab to a 2-0 win against Al Nasr in the top match of the round to climb to the third place in the table. Al Shimrani opened the scoring in the second half when Angolan midfielder Flavio Amado beat the offside trap on the right before sending a low cross to Al Shimrani who tapped the ball home from close range.

Al Shimrani secured the win for Al Shabab 11 minutes from time when from a corner from the right he scored with a first-time volley to make it 2-0. The game between Najran and Al Qadisiya finished in a scoreless draw.