Al-Hilal Vs Al-Shabab Highlights, Saudi Pro League: HIL 2-2 SHB; Hosts Drop Points In Title Race

Greetings and a very warm welcome to everyone. We will bring you live updates from the all-important Saudi Pro League clash between Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab at the Kingdom Arena, so watch this space.

The match will begin at 9:25pm IST. The Saudi Pro League clash between Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab will be televised on the Sony Sports Network in India. It will be live streamed on the SonyLiv app and website in the country.

Here's how the two teams line up ahead of kick-off in Riyadh:

Al-Hilal have the upper hand against Al-Shabab, when it comes to the head-to-head history. Hilal have won 19 of the 33 Saudi Pro League games between the two sides, with Shabab winning five times and nine games ending in draws.

Al-Hilal attacking from left to right, and Al-Shabab from right to left in the first half. Hilal earn the first corner of the match in the sixth minute, but it is their less fancied opponents who open scoring in the seventh minute. Daniel Podence it is, with a left-footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner after an assist from Musab Al Juwayr.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic brings Al-Hilal back level with a nifty conversion in the 31st minute. Salem Al Dawsari surges in towards the Al-Shabab box and crosses it in, where Milinkovic-Savic controls the ball nicely with a good first touch and drills it in. Al-Shabab protest vehemently, seeking a reversal and a free-kick for what they deemed was a foul in the lead-up to the goal. But the referee is having none of it and books Mohammed Al Thani, goal-scorer Podence instead. 

The scoreline stays at 1-1 after four minutes of added time in the first half. The Al-Shabab players continue to be discontent with the referee's decision to allow the Milinkovic-Savic goal, but they'll have to live with it. As for Al-Hilal, they would no doubt be hungry for a winning goal to keep up the pressure on league leaders Al-Ittihad, who will be in action in about an hour's time.

Al-Hilal have a dream start to the second half. Seconds after kick-off, they surge towards the Al-Shabab box and Malcom passes it on to Salem Al Dawsari, who makes no mistake to put the hosts ahead 2-1 in the 46th minute.

Al-Shabab are really making a match of this. Just when it seemed Al-Hilal will run away with a favourable result, the visitors have drawn level via Mohammed Al Shwirekh. Cristian Guanca's corner kick arrives perfectly for Al Shwirekh, who heads it in with ease. 2-2.

That's it. The final whistle is blown, and the scoreline remains at 2-2. A spirited Al-Shabab have held the hosts, which means Al-Hilal drop crucial points in their quest to mount a title challenge against leaders Al-Ittihad. Al-Hilal now have 62 points from 29 games, and will stay at least three points behind Al-Ittihad, regardless of the latter's result tonight.