RIYADH — Karim Benzema scored in each half to lead Al Hilal to a commanding 4-0 victory over Al Najmah in the Saudi Pro League.The win lifted Al Hilal to 61 points in third place, while Al Najmah suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and 19th of the season, remaining bottom of the table with eight points.Al Najmah were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute after defender Nasser Al-Hilal was sent off for bringing down Salem Al-Dawsari when the Hilal captain was through on goal.Benzema opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when Al-Dawsari delivered a cross from inside the penalty area, allowing the French striker to head home from close range beyond the reach of goalkeeper Victor Braga.Al Hilal dominated the second half but were initially denied by a series of saves from Braga before Benzema doubled the advantage nine minutes from time.The forward met a low cross from Sergej Milinković-Savić and finished from close range.Malcom added the third in the 84th minute after Theo Hernandez combined with Benzema before striking the post, allowing Malcom to head in the rebound.Milinković-Savić sealed the result three minutes later, converting from another rebound after Hernandez’s long-range attempt was parried by Braga.
RIYADH — Karim Benzema scored in each half to lead Al Hilal to a commanding 4-0 victory over Al Najmah in the Saudi Pro League.The win lifted Al Hilal to 61 points in third place, while Al Najmah suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and 19th of the season, remaining bottom of the table with eight points.Al Najmah were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute after defender Nasser Al-Hilal was sent off for bringing down Salem Al-Dawsari when the Hilal captain was through on goal.Benzema opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when Al-Dawsari delivered a cross from inside the penalty area, allowing the French striker to head home from close range beyond the reach of goalkeeper Victor Braga.Al Hilal dominated the second half but were initially denied by a series of saves from Braga before Benzema doubled the advantage nine minutes from time.The forward met a low cross from Sergej Milinković-Savić and finished from close range.Malcom added the third in the 84th minute after Theo Hernandez combined with Benzema before striking the post, allowing Malcom to head in the rebound.Milinković-Savić sealed the result three minutes later, converting from another rebound after Hernandez’s long-range attempt was parried by Braga.
