AFC Champions League Elite - Focused Al Hilal delight Jesus

Jeddah: It was, by all accounts, a massive display of firepower but Jorge Jesus insisted that Al Hilal SFC’s 7-0 defeat of Gwangju FC was more than just a show of their awesome arsenal.

A 3-0 lead at the break had all but sealed victory for Al Hilal against their opponents from Korea Republic in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 but the side from Saudi Arabia maintained their high intensity to hit Gwangju for another four, with seven different players finding the back of the net.

#ACLElite | Quarter-finals : Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 7 - 0 Gwangju FC (KOR)

Jesus said the final score was not a true reflection of just how good the four-time Asian champions had been at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

“Our goal is always to win and deliver strong performances,” said head coach Jesus. “The score doesn’t reflect how tough the opponents were – they (Gwangju) beat Vissel Kobe – so this result speaks of our quality.

“I would be satisfied with a 1-0 win if the performance was solid. That said, I'm proud of the players. This was a big result. However, Gwangju showed sportsmanship, respect and discipline. They set a good example today, even in defeat.”

Al Hilal came into the tie on the back of a recent slump which has left their Saudi Pro League title hopes hanging by a thread but Jesus was proud of his players for showing maturity and focus to earn the result.

“We’ve been under pressure in the Saudi Pro League, and the players have shown great focus despite that.

“Today, everyone gave their all. Without commitment, we couldn’t have achieved this. I believe we’re on the right path, creating a good atmosphere for everyone involved – players and staff.”

The win, however, came at a price with Joao Cancelo having to be taken out due to an injury, with the defender a doubt for the semi-final against either Al Ahli Saudi FC or Buriiram United.

“Losing Cancelo is a blow, but we’ll adapt,” Jesus said. “He’s important to us, but we’ll find a solution.”

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