Al-Hilal 0-5 Newcastle: Almiron at it again & Karius shines as Toon run riot in Riyadh

Olly Hawkins

Newcastle United secured a Diriyah Cup victory over Al-Hilal on Thursday night, beating the Saudi Pro League champions 5-0!

In the 5pm clash at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Joelinton got on the scoresheet twice in a competitive affair in Riyadh – although Loris Karius was the star of the show in a first half that featured two brilliant stops on his debut.

The second half was full of changes, seeing a host of U21 talents feature, but it was Miguel Almiron who continued his stunning form in front of goal with two emphatic finishes in a final 45 totally dominated by the Toon.

A fifth then came from Dylan Stephenson, as the 19-year-old Geordie rounded off the scoring to seal an emphatic win – and the Diriyah Cup – for Newcastle United.

Howe named a strong side, handing starts to Sven Botman, Jonjo Shelvey, Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin. Loris Karius also made his debut for the club, while Jamal Lewis was handed a rare opportunity to impress from left-back.

Matt Targett and Karl Darlow were absent through illness, while Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Garang Kuol won’t be involved in our warm-weather training camp due to their involvement in the World Cup.

NUFC XI: Karius – Manquillo, Lascelles, Botman, Lewis – Shelvey, Willock, Joelinton – Murphy, Wood, Saint-Maximin.

Subs: Gillespie, Fraser, Almiron, Anderson, Burn, Longstaff, White, Stephenson, Turner-Cooke, A.Murphy, Miley.

Our first chance of the game came on six minutes, where Chris Wood’s cut-back was almost tapped in by Jacob Murphy; who saw his effort blocked on the line.

However, less than 60 seconds later it was 1-0 Newcastle as Jacob Murphy beat his man with ease down the right and hung up a back-post cross that was headed home emphatically by Joelinton.

It was a high-intensity start from both sides and Loris Karius was called into action on a couple of occasions, safely gathering two shots on target from the hosts, who’d started brightly despite going a goal down.

Jamal Lewis struggled defensively in the early stages, with the majority of their play coming down our left. Make no mistake, Al-Hilal were playing at a good intensity and moving the ball quickly, however the former Norwich man did himself no favours before a trademark burst from Allan Saint-Maximin almost put Chris Wood in behind on the 20-minute mark.

Sven Botman came close to picking some nice passes from the back, although it was clear Jonjo Shelvey wasn’t quite up to speed after missing the majority of the season with a hamstring injury.

After a clever ball across the box from Saint-Maximin, Murphy cut in and had an effort of his own well blocked, but it was Karius who was called into action moment later, getting down brilliantly to deny former Man Utd striker Odion Ighalo from six yards out. We were looking shaky at the back, but the German had made a very solid start, showing good handling, solid positioning and often looking to release the ball quickly.

On the 35-minute mark, a clumsy push from Botman was checked by VAR; which was in operation at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. No penalty, however it certainly fell into the category of ‘seen them given.’

Chris Wood was then forced off with an injury – a worry given Isak is not yet fit and Wilson is away – and replaced by Sean Longstaff, seeing Saint-Maximin move up front and Joelinton push up to the left side of a front three.

Then, two minutes before the break, Joelinton bagged his second of the night, sliding a low effort over the line after latching onto a lovely through ball from Willock. 2-0 Newcastle, although it required another superb stop from Karius to keep it that way before half-time, with the former Liverpool stopper tipping Carrillo’s curling effort wide of the post.

A solid half and decent test at this point, with Murphy and Willock both putting in lively first-half displays after brilliant work at either end from Karius and big Joe.

The Blaydon Races blasted around the stadium during the break and two changes followed as the players came out for the second 45, seeing Mark Gillespie and Miguel Almiron replace the impressive Loris Karius and Jacob Murphy.

After a stray backpass from Manquillo almost caught Gillespie out, it was Newcastle who almost made it three 50 minutes in, as man of the moment Miggy Almiron crashed a thumping effort off the bar from the edge of the box.

Ighalo then avoided red after an awful challenge down Almiron’s achilles, with Botman almost making it 3-0 moments later after a towering header from a Jonjo Shelvey corner was parried clear by the Al-Hilal goalie.

Our fourth change of the night then followed as Elliot Anderson replaced Joelinton. The Geordie talent almost bagged himself an assist moments later after latching onto Almiron’s through ball, however the local lad was marginally offside before he squared for Willock’s tap-in.

Botman, Willock and Shelvey then made way, with Dan Burn, Ryan Fraser and U21 star Joe White coming on for the final 30 minutes of a game Newcastle were well and truly dominating at this point.

Ex-Porto star Moussa Marega came on for the hosts, who were still being spurred on by a lively crowd, however Jamaal Lascelles did superbly to header a dangerous cross clear to preserve our clean sheet with 25 minutes remaining.

At the other end, Anderson was unlucky – once again – not to get on the scoresheet, as his low shot cannoned off the post after some good work from Saint-Maximin, however it was Almiron who made it three moments later, firing in off the post Anderson had just hit after a brilliant solo run saw him leave two Al-Hilal players for dead.

3-0 Newcastle and two more changes followed, with summer signing Alex Murphy and U21 striker Dylan Stephenson replacing Jamal Lewis and Allan Saint-Maximin.

There was more goals in this for Howe’s high-flying Mags, but Irish defender Murphy made an immediate impression at the back, doing well to stick with the powerful Marega before blocking his cross.

Two goals in quick succession then followed for Newcastle. First it was Miguel Almiron again, who fired home expertly from the back post after a nice pick out from Longstaff, then Stephenson bagged his first senior goal from a perfectly weighted cross from Fraser.

Our final two changes then followed, as 16-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley and former Sunderland prospect Jay Turner-Cooke came on for Jamaal Lascelles and Javier Manquillo – two players who put in solid shifts at the back.

A great run out for Howe’s Mags and impressive win against a decent Al-Hilal side who simply couldn’t handle our pace, energy and precision in attack.

Next up, a friendly with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday 17th December ahead of competitive games against Bournemouth, Leicester and Leeds later this month!

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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192 thoughts on “Al-Hilal 0-5 Newcastle: Almiron at it again & Karius shines as Toon run riot in Riyadh”

  1. Morocco have just come up against a much better team tonight – they have played quite well to be fair.

    Amrabat is outstanding in the middle, Hakimi & Ziyech down the right are top notch too.

    I’ve been pretty impressed by Thuram since he’s came on too.

    Messi v Mbappe it is.

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  2. Maybe we can have Liverpool’s Mike Dean on VAR? That would guarantee a French win as they are closer to “The Wirral”.

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  4. Gilly: I dont think the French hate us. I have been like 5 times and never had a single problem. I had heard the Parisiens were ornery. I didnt see it, they couldnt have been nicer. Same with New York City. They have a reputation as well. Not when I was there, the locals couldnt have been more helpful.

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  5. Is every single ex-player a pundit now? Glen Johnson is saying it is OK for Chelsea to sell us Pulisic because we wont finish top 4 anyway. I always wonder how many full games these so called experts watch. Or do they just see the highlights? We have been pretty good under Eddie and were unlucky in some games, especially Palace and Liverpool. We also deserved our wins against Spurs and Chelsea and the draw against City.

    It is the opposite to Bruce who they were full of praise for.

    What kind of stupid do you have to be to NOT recognize that the Saudis are not in this to finish 7th. They already have the blueprint at City and PSG. Man City were not exactly a juggernaut when they were taken over. They were the 2nd club in Manchester for 40 years. Even worse, when Fergie was at Man U they were an afterthought.

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  6. If we sign Pulisic we will have our American. We also have that Aussie kid. I would like us to sign a Korean or Japanese player as well to have an Asian presence. I cant remember their names but some of the Asians played pretty well at the WC. If we want to be a global brand this is an easy way to do it.

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  7. I think we have the makings of a very good team. I would like to see more of Isak but the other signings have all been good and Big Joe and Miggy have been transformed.

    There were signs before Maxi was injured that he had been coached that he didnt need to take on the whole opposition team every time. He was laying the ball off more and crossing. Maybe he trusts his team-mates now?

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  8. I could so NOT care less about the Carabao Cup. I think Liverpool won it last year. The year before? I have no clue. It is not even televised in the USA.

    I really dont get these people who say they would rather win this NOW meaningless trophy than qualify for the Champions League. I will say it for the umpteenth time – it is not binary.

    BUT, our goal is CL and that will get us sponsors and the best players. The League Cup will not!

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  10. I wouldnt say no to a trophy after so many years, but what I want is to dominate the CL and watch Meelan, Juve and the Madrids rather than Wigan, Southport and Tranmere in the league cup.

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  13. This is probably just me but I dont really care about the league cup. I dont really have any personal memories of it. It may as well be the LD Vans Trophy. The FA Cup is a different matter. That was always an all day thing with Bob Wilson doing intros into anecdotal pieces on players and fans and them having pictures of Wembley Way.

    The final thing is that they do not show the league cup games in the US so it is hard for me to follow.

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  14. I forgot that Messi and MBappe are at the same club now. Whenever I think of Lionel I think Barca.

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  15. It is just about to get really cold here. Next Thursday will be Minus 18 Degrees Celsius. I challenge any Geordie to wear just a t-shirt in that!!!

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  21. Go West: can you summarize as it wont open.

    I am going back to my binary thing that blogs and youtubers seem obsessed with.

    At NUFC we can go to the buffet and get chicken AND beef. It is not like dinner on a plane when you get dinner that is chicken OR beef.

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  22. I am leaving for Mexico in a couple of weeks They serve food and expect they will ask – do you want chicken or beef? I dont expect they will ask – as a NUFC fan do you want the league cup or the top 4?

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  25. What really matters though is that Eddie is doing a brilliant job. We are 3rd. And have Maxi, Isak and Shelvey coming back. What a squad we have now even if we dont add in Jan!!!

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  26. Well, I for one, would love to see us bring a trophy back home, even if it’s the league cup. I’d love to see us win it. We can then follow it with the FA cup! 😂😂

    I see our match tomorrow is on NUFC TV again! Amazing that.

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  28. Eric Sykes: Go West: can you summarize as it wont open.

    Essentially the WC was a nice distraction but really should be in the summer as December is about the league , latter stages of the LC and getting ready for the FA cup

    Talks about the fun of nufc not being
    sickly and ****

    and looking forward to nufc being in a nice place for a pop at cups and league

    He’s a decent writer and the athletic is good sports commentary away from the dire output of mainstream media

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  29. Here’s my predicted line up although I think it will change at half time:

    Karius

    Manquillo Burn Bottman Targett

    Longstaff Willock Joelinton

    Miggy Wood Murphy

    Changes at half time:

    Lascelles
    ASM
    Darlow
    Lewis
    Anderson
    Shelvey

    Maybe 10 mins for Isak?

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  30. I think Miggy has to play. He has probably been in his back yard chasing chickens of herding cats for the last month to get rid of his pent up energy.

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  32. I will say this again, but if you give players belief they will be transformed. Ferguson had a bunch of average players at Man U but they believed – B@tt, Wes Brown, Phil Neville, Darren Ferguson… and many others.

    Now Eddie has transformed:

    Sean
    Miggy
    Schar
    Big Joe
    Jonjo
    possibly Lascelles although we havent really seen him play

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  34. It is amazing what you can do in a year if you hire someone with talent, a work ethic and enthusiasm. Rather than a shirker, a moaner and a blamer.

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  35. Well you know… I thought we got a bit unlucky today with the 4 goals we let in. The 9-zero-1 system worked well in training, or so the Steves tell me. I was out at Greggs so rely on them for team information. Is there a flight to Portugal anytime soon? Do they have Greggs’ in Portugal?

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  42. Yes I just heard that, but they were not very good. Don’t think they like the cold! Shame about the own goal, but at least we won. 2-1. Better to win than lose even in a friendly. Not the best game, but lots of our first team out.

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