Hilal increased its lead atop Zain Saudi Professional League standings after beating Al-Fateh 2-1 in a round-18 match in Al-Ahsa Friday. Hilal's Romanian midfielder Meriel Radoi put the visitors in the lead after 17 minutes before midfielder Ahmed Abu-Obaid leveled the score for Fateh in the 78th minute. Hilal's defender Majed Al-Marshadi, however, ran off with the winning goal seconds before time. Hilal in on top of the standings on 44 points, eight ahead of second-placed Al-Ittihad. Fateh is 10th on 18 points. In other encounters Al-Ittifaq downed host Najran 4-2 in Najran; Al-Shabab and Al-Qadisiyah shared two goals in Al-Khobar; and visitor Al-Ta'awon played a goalless match with host Al-Ra'id in Buraidah. Ittifaq is fifth on the standings with 32 points, a single goal difference behind Al-Shabab. Najran is 13th on 14 points. Shabab is fourth on 32 points.
