Players fighting for the ball during the league match.

RIYADH, Sept 20: The Round 3 Roshn League showdown between Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal ended stunningly, as the host staged a late comeback to snatch a 3-3 draw after trailing by three goals.

Al-Hilal appeared in full control, racing to a 3-0 lead by the 78th minute. But in a remarkable turnaround, Al-Ahli struck three times in the closing stages, sending home fans into raptures and leaving the visitors shell-shocked.

For Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle, it was a night to savor: “I believed we could come back. I expected a miracle, and we made one happen against a powerful team. Despite mistakes, we never stopped fighting. I’m proud of the energy and aggression we showed in the second half.”

On the other side, frustration was written all over Simone Inzaghi’s face. The Al-Hilal coach lamented the collapse: “We played brilliantly for 80 minutes, scored three goals, created chances, but what happened after the 80th minute was unacceptable. Injuries and the loss of players like Malcom and Neves affected our balance, but defensive lapses cost us dearly. These endings are hard to accept — it was a painful lesson.”