AFC Champions League Elite
Extending their perfect run to five wins means Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal are assured of a top eight spot in the West Zone’s League Stage irrespective of what happens in the remaining matches while Iraq’s Al Shorta are on the brink of elimination with just one point to their name.
Al Shorta came into the tie searching for their first win after having suffered three consecutive defeats while Simone Inzaghi gave 21-year-old Al Hilal keeper Mathieu Patouillet his debut, while first-choice stars Yassine Bounou, Salem Al Dawsari, Darwin Nunez and Ali Al Bulayhi were on the substitutes bench.
Despite Al Hilal controlling possession, it was Al Shorta who had a chance to test Patouillet but Ahmed Farhan sent his shot from outside the box wide.
Despite Al Hilal controlling possession, it was Al Shorta who had a chance to test Patouillet but Ahmed Farhan sent his shot from outside the box wide.
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Kaio Cesar nearly unlocked the Al Shorta defence a minute later with an incisive run into the box following a well-timed pass from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, but his cut-back into the six-yard-box was swatted away.
While Rewan Amin and Ahmed Yahia could not make any headway for Al Shorta, the home side went close to a breakthrough in the 24th minute after Malcom set up Marcos Leonardo, whose shot on the turn forced a brilliant save from Al Shorta custodian Hasan Ahmed.
While Rewan Amin and Ahmed Yahia could not make any headway for Al Shorta, the home side went close to a breakthrough in the 24th minute after Malcom set up Marcos Leonardo, whose shot on the turn forced a brilliant save from Al Shorta custodian Hasan Ahmed.
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Al Hilal’s pressure came to fruition in the 45th minute after Milinkovic-Savic played a through ball to Malcom, who saw his angled shot blocked by Ahmed but the Brazilian did well with the rebound, sending a lofted pass to Leonardo to steer home a powerful header.
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A clever through ball from Milinkovic-Savic in the 48th minute almost produced Al Hilal’s second with Malcom through on goal but Mehdi Ashabi’s timed his tackle perfectly to prevent further damage.
Al Shorta continued to flirt with danger with Cesar coming close twice in the span of two minutes – first seeing his shot from inside the area blocked by Ahmed before steering his headed attempt just wide off the right post.
Al Shorta continued to flirt with danger with Cesar coming close twice in the span of two minutes – first seeing his shot from inside the area blocked by Ahmed before steering his headed attempt just wide off the right post.
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The Iraqi side went down to 10 men in the 61st minute after Ahmed Yahia picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Cesar, leaving Al Hilal to take full advantage two minutes later with Milinkovic-Savic thumping home a header off Joao Cancelo’s free-kick.
Al Shorta were struggling to contain the Saudi Pro League side who dded their third in the 72nd minute with Nasser Al Dawsari setting up Leonardo to head past Ahmed.
Al Hilal came close in the 88th minute but Ahmed produced a fingertip save to deny Mohammed Al Qahtani but Cancelo made sure the four-time Asian champions finished on a high by slotting home in stoppage time.
Al Shorta were struggling to contain the Saudi Pro League side who dded their third in the 72nd minute with Nasser Al Dawsari setting up Leonardo to head past Ahmed.
Al Hilal came close in the 88th minute but Ahmed produced a fingertip save to deny Mohammed Al Qahtani but Cancelo made sure the four-time Asian champions finished on a high by slotting home in stoppage time.
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