Champions Al-Hilal will go into 2021 as SPL leaders DUBAI: Al-Ittihad ensured that Al-Hilal will not go into 2021 with a potential six-point lead at the top of the Saudi Professional League (SPL) after securing a 1-1 draw against the champions at King Saud University stadium in Riyadh. It could have been so much better for Al-Ittihad, having led by solitary goal going into the last five minutes of the match. After a disastrous 2019-20 season for Ittihad, one that saw them close to relegation, the Jeddah club came into the Saudi Clasico in far better shape than they had been for some time, in fifth place and with 14 points already on the board. Still, few would have expected anything other than a home win Al-Hilal in the 10th round of the season, and last of the year. The early stages of the match had brought few clear cut chances, with Andre Carrillo looking lively for Al-Hilal, while Egyptian international Ahmed Hegazi, on loan from West Brom, proved a solid presence at the back for Al-Ittihad. And it was Al-Ittihad who took the lead on 20 minutes through Abdulrahman Al-Aboud’s superb curling strike. As expected, Al-Hilal came out for the second half with greater purpose while Al-Ittihad looked to soak the pressure and hit them on the break. Carrillo and Bafétimbi Gomis carried the home team’s greatest threat and with 20 minutes left Salem Al-Dawsari’s shot from inside the penalty area was deflected just wide for a corner. Al-Hilal continued to dominate possession — and would end the match with 70 percent superiority — but this did not translate into many dangerous chances. With nine minutes left Nasser Al-Dawsari and Saleh Al-Shehri replaced Mohammed Al-Breik and Jang Huyn-soo as Al-Hilal coach Răzvan Lucescu desperately looked to save the match. The move paid dividends with Al-Shehri meeting Sebastian Giovinco’s pinpoint free-kick with glancing header to secure a 1-1 draw for Al-Hilal five minutes from the end. The result leaves Al-Hilal four points ahead of second place Al-Ahli, who have a game in hand. “I came in pretty late in the half when were one goal down, and I had certain instructions from the coach which I will keep private,” said Al-Shehri. “I’m grateful I scored, of course we had ambitions of winning the match but a point is better than nothing.” Ittihad captain Karim El Ahmadi was disappointed his team did not secure the win. “Al-Hilal had chances, but we also had chances to make it 2-0,” the Moroccan midfielder said. “To come to Al-Hilal and get 1-1 draw against big team is a good result. But looking at the chances that came our way, we could have won.” He also had special praise for the team’s new found defensive resilience. ”Al-Hilal have great control and great players,” El Ahmadi said. “You always have to double mark their individual attackers, and we didn’t give them too many chances today. Hopefully we can win our next match.We’ve had an unbeaten run of 11 matches and we can see the improvement in the team."