Zambian international striker Fashion Sakala put in a valiant effort for Al-Fayha FC, but couldn't prevent his side from slumping to a 2-0 defeat against league leaders Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League on Friday. Al-Fayha, now on a five-game losing streak, started brightly and held the hosts scoreless in the first half. However, their hopes for a positive result came crashing down in the final stages of the match. Ali Albulayhi opened the scoring for Al Hilal with four minutes remaining, followed by a late penalty converted by former Newcastle United and Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrović, taking his league tally to an impressive 17 goals. Despite his side's struggles, Sakala, Al-Fayha's top scorer with seven goals and three assists, remained a constant threat, but was unable to add to his tally against the formidable league leaders. The defeat widens the gap between Al Hilal and second-placed Al-Nassr (which boasts Cristiano Ronaldo in its ranks) to 10 points. With domestic action on hold until February, Sakala's immediate focus will shift to international duty. He will join the Zambian national team as they relocate to Saudi Arabia for final preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, hosted by Ivory Coast starting January 13th.