Al-Hilal withstood a late Al Kholood rally to claim a 4-2 victory at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

The damage was done during a late first-half surge by the visitors, who leapfrogged Al-Ittihad to the summit of the table.

Al-Hilal broke the deadlock in the 38th minute through former Napoli and Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who finished after Renan Lodi initially struck the woodwork.

Malcom doubled the lead four minutes later, then Ali Al Bulayhi made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage-time.

Former Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest defender Lodi then got in the act to make it four within three minutes of the restart.

The hosts finished the contest the stronger of the two sides with Hammam Al Hammami and a William Troost-Ekong penalty halving the deficit, but that rally could not prevent the visitors from remaining perfect after their first five games.