Al-Hilal's Half-Time Dominance Turns into Second-Half Struggles

Al-Hilal walked off at half-time looking untouchable, three goals clear and cruising. By the hour mark, that comfort had vanished and the game had turned into an avoidable scrap.

A sharp second‑half drop in intensity opened the door for Al-Faisaly, who needed only five chaotic minutes to hit back twice and drag tension into a match that should have been dead long before. The scoreboard still favoured Al-Hilal, but the performance after the break did not.

Filippo Inzaghi did not hide from it. Speaking to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the Italian cut straight to the split personality of his team’s display.

“In the first half we played wonderfully,” he said. “In the second half there was a lack of output from some of the players, but we can improve that.”

The contrast clearly bothered him. The rhythm, the control, the sharpness that defined the opening 45 minutes all faded after the restart, and Inzaghi admitted the staff shared responsibility.

“In the second half there was a drop in level, and this is something we suffered from as a coaching staff,” he added. “But we always work to make our fans happy.”

Selection decisions are already under the microscope, not least the continued absence of Theo Hernandez. The French full-back has been training with the group in recent weeks, yet has not featured.

“Theo Hernandez arrived late to the group, and did not get a sufficient number of training sessions,” Inzaghi explained. “Soon we will see him with the team.”

Transfer noise is swirling around the squad as well. Brazilian winger Malcom has been heavily linked with a move to newly promoted Al-Diriyah in the Roshn League, but Inzaghi refused to be drawn into the market drama.

“Malcom put in an excellent performance, and he must continue to deliver at this level,” he said. “I do not want to talk about the transfer window, because that is a matter for the sporting management.”

If the slump in performance raised questions, Karim Benzema supplied the flashpoint. The French striker reacted angrily to being substituted in the 70th minute, a public show of frustration that instantly became the talking point around the club.

Inzaghi downplayed any notion of a rift, framing the post-match exchange as part of normal dressing-room life between an elite forward and his coach.

“It was a conversation between a coach and his player, which included some banter and talk about the course of the match,” he said. “As a striker, he always works to be present in attacking situations.”

Behind the big names and big reactions, Inzaghi is also trying to build something longer term. He pointed to the depth coming through, highlighting the promise of his younger options.

“We have players of a high level,” he said. “Sabri Dahl will get his chance in the future, him and the rest of the young players.”

A three-goal lead squandered into a nervous finish, a star striker bristling at substitution, a marquee full-back still waiting to step in, and a coach insisting the answers are already in the dressing room. Al-Hilal may have won, but the real contest now is whether Inzaghi can turn 45 brilliant minutes into a complete, ruthless 90.