A positive draw prevailed in the Riyadh Derby between Al Nassr and Al Hilal, held on Tuesday evening as part of Round 32 of the Saudi Pro League.

The “Global Club” came within touching distance of sealing the title after taking the lead through French defender Mohamed Simakan, but fate struck in the final moments when Brazilian Bento Matheus scored a dramatic own goal in the 97:48 minute, handing the “Boss” a valuable point and keeping the title race alive.

With this result, Al Nassr moved to 83 points at the top of the table, five points ahead of second-placed Al Hilal (78 points), pushing the championship decision to the final round.

Historic complexities and derby records

The match reinforced a set of patterns and records that added even more intensity to the encounter:

The curse of own goals: Bento’s own goal became the third of its kind in the history of league meetings between the two sides. Interestingly, all such goals have gone in favor of Al Hilal, recalling similar incidents involving Ibrahim Ghaleb (2012) and Omar Hawsawi (2014).

Al Nassr’s streak ends: Al Nassr’s winning streak in matches where they lead at half-time came to a halt after 12 consecutive victories in such scenarios, reviving the “Al Hilal curse,” as Hilal once again denied them victory after trailing early in the match for the first time since early 2026.

Late goals drama: The equalizer went down as the third-latest goal ever scored in the Riyadh Derby, highlighting the pressure and determination that defined the closing minutes.

Coaching battle: Inzaghi vs Jesus

On the managerial side, both coaches missed out on historic milestones. Al Hilal’s Italian coach Simone Inzaghi failed to match Cosmin Olăroiu’s record of winning his first two derbies, settling instead for a draw.

Meanwhile, Al Nassr’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus missed the chance to become the first manager to win the derby while coaching both Riyadh giants. Despite his strong record—losing only twice in 19 derbies—this unique achievement remains out of reach for now