Ighalo bangs in brace for Al Hilal to sink former club

Odion Ighalo was the source of major despair for his former side Al Shabab as he scored a brace for his new side Al Hilal in their 5-0 win in the Saudi Professional League.

Odion Ighalo was making his first league appearance since joining Al Hilal from Al Shabab over a dispute that arose from the club denying him permission to represent the Super Eagles at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.

The 32-year-old had featured once and scored in the FIFA Club World Cup for Al Hilal, but his league debut came against his former employers.

With both sides evenly matched in the opening exchanges, it was Odion Ighalo who provided the opener for Al Hilal in spectacular style in the 18th minute of the clash.

Peruvian winger Andre Carrillo picked up the ball on the wide left flank before sending a brilliant ball towards Ighalo with the outside of his left foot. The veteran striker burst through the space between both Al Shabab central defenders before brilliantly lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper with one touch in sublime fashion to put his new side one goal up.

Carrillo got in on the act in the 25th minute as he scored to make it 2-0 to the AFC Champions League holders. Former FC Porto striker Moussa Marega added a third for Al Hilal in the 30th minute. The Malian then set up Odion Ighalo for his second of the night in the 43rd minute as Al Hilal made it 4-0 before the break.

Moussa Marega added a fifth for Al Hilal in the 82nd minute to round off the scoring in a majestic performance.

Al Hilal are in fourth place on 34 points, six points behind Al Shabab in third, despite having played three games less. Ighalo’s brace took him to 14 league goals this season in the Saudi Professional League.

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