Ighalo scores crucial goal in golden boot race as Al-Hilal move 3rd

Nigerian striker Odion Jude Ighalo kept himself in the race for the golden boot, as his goal in Al-Hilal's win against Abha takes his season tally to 19, one behind top goal scorer Abderrazak Hamdellah. 

The 33-year-old will not win the league this season after Al-Ittihad clinched the title tonight, and he suffered a defeat in the AFC Champions League final; however, he can pick up an individual honour in the top scorer award.

Al-Hilal started very well and took the lead in the 11th minute of the game thanks to a Mohammed Al-Qahtani strike.

The former Granada striker scored his 19th in the 44th minute of the game, getting on the end of a Musab Fahd Aljuwayr assist. 

Abdullah Al-Hamddan made it three in the 87th minute, with Saud Abdul Hamid providing the assist.

Al-Za'eem now only need to avoid defeat in the final game of the season to confirm a third-place finish, with Al-Shabab losing four consecutive games. 

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr have officially lost the Saudi Professional League title to Al-Ittihad after failing to beat Al-Ettifaq today.

The defeat made it mathematically impossible to overtake the champions with only one league game left to play this season. 

The 37-year-old joined Faris Najd in January when the Marsool Park team led the league table and was primed to bring economic and sporting success.