Analysis The numbers behind the result
NEOM clinically punish wasteful Al-Hilal despite 26% possession deficit
The 2-0 scoreline flattered NEOM slightly, but their victory was justified by superior shot efficiency. Al-Hilal dominated possession (63%) and created more chances (20 shots to 11), but only 5 were on target compared to NEOM's 4, with NEOM's xG per shot (0.18) nearly doubling Al-Hilal's (0.10). Kalidou Koulibaly's 15th-minute own goal gifted NEOM an early lead before Amadou Koné doubled it just before halftime - NEOM scored twice from just 0.74 xG while Al-Hilal wasted 2.01 xG.
Al-Hilal's high-volume but low-quality attack (only 25% of shots on target) contrasted sharply with NEOM's direct approach, which yielded 36% shot accuracy despite their limited build-up play (295 total passes vs Al-Hilal's 498). The hosts' wastefulness was epitomized by their 55% shot accuracy deficit (NEOM's keepers made 5 saves to Al-Hilal's 3) and 10 off-target attempts. The decisive stat: NEOM converted 18% of their shots compared to Al-Hilal's 0% - a textbook example of clinical finishing trumping territorial dominance.