Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly sees red as Al-Hilal edge past Al-Shabab

Al-Hilal overcame the dismissal of Kalidou Koulibaly to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Al-Shabab on Friday in the Saudi Pro League.

Despite being reduced to ten men late in the game, Simone Inzaghi’s side held firm to claim three vital points that move them within touching distance of league leaders Al-Nassr.

Senegalese defender Koulibaly endured another frustrating night against Al-Shabab.

Almost a year after being sent off in the same fixture, the centre-back was again shown a red card following a contentious decision.

The incident occurred in the 77th minute when Koulibaly, pushing forward during an attacking move, mistimed a challenge while attempting to reach the ball and caught goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe with his studs.

Referee Georgi Kabakov of Bulgaria initially brandished a yellow card, but after consulting the VAR monitor, he upgraded the decision to a straight red.

انتصار وثلاث نقاط لـ ⁧#الهلال⁩ 👏🔝

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— نادي الهلال السعودي (@Alhilal_FC) October 31, 2025

The call was met with protest from Al-Hilal players and disbelief from the bench, as replays suggested the contact was accidental.

The expulsion marked Koulibaly’s fourth red card in 105 appearances for the Saudi club and echoed his previous dismissal against the same opposition in November 2024.

Yet Al-Hilal, showing the composure and depth that have defined their campaign, managed to see out the final stages without conceding.

The decisive moment of the contest came in the first half when Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo continued his impressive run of form by finding the net in the 36th minute.

His precise finish proved enough to separate the two sides in a tense, physical encounter.

Al-Shabab pushed forward in search of an equaliser after the sending-off, but Al-Hilal’s disciplined defensive display and strong organisation ensured they maintained their slender advantage until the final whistle.

With the result, Inzaghi’s men temporarily move to within one point of Al-Nassr at the top of the table, underlining their determination to stay in the title race despite the setback of losing one of their key defenders.

For Koulibaly, however, it was another night of frustration against familiar opponents, as his return to the lineup ended in early dismissal.

Still, Al-Hilal’s resilience ensured that the team’s ambitions remained intact — even when reduced to ten men.