FOOTBALL – AL Hilal SFC capped a sterling AFC Champions League Stage with a 2-1 win against Al Wahda FC yesterday.
It was a near-perfect campaign for Simone Inzaghi’s Saudi Arabian side with this being their seventh win as they finished on 22 points, with UAE’s Al Wahda eight adrift but also through to the Round of 16.
The home side breathed a huge sigh of relief in the 10th minute after Pablo Mari looked to have struck Omar Khribin with his forearm but despite being asked to review the incident again, referee Ma Ning decided to maintain the yellow card shown to the Spaniard.
Having escaped from going down to 10 men early in the game, Al Hilal capitalised on the situation to take the lead nine minutes later when Darwin Nunez thumped home a header from Neves’ free-kick.
The visitors should have regained parity just a minute later following a great Brahima Diarra solo dribble from the halfway line and into the box, only for the Mali international to stumble at the last moment before Nunez fluffed a one-on-one chance by blazing his effort high over the bar.
Al Wahda were not to be denied in the 32nd minute as they won a corner after Mohammed Alyami tipped over Khribin’s free-kick and from the ensuing delivery, the latter found Diarra at the near post to glance a header home.
Only the brilliance of Alyami denied Al Wahda a half-time lead when he tipped Facundo Kruspzky’s sizzling strike from distance onto the bar to bring to a close a hugely entertaining opening half.
Al Hilal went close to regaining their lead after the break from yet another pinpoint Neves cross but Yusuf Akcicek’s effort went just wide with Alhammadi rooted on his goal line.
The end-to-end contest saw chances for both sides with substitute Sultan Mandash breaking free in the box in the 64th minute only to fire his low shot wide before Guga sent Diarra racing into the box but his attempt was blocked by Alyami.
In the end, it was Al Hilal who finally came good in the 77th minute when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic took advantage of a slip from Bader Nasser to feed Mandash on the right to cross into the far post for Nunez to sidefoot home.
Al Ahli Saudi FC defeated Shabab Al Ahli 4-3 in their concluding tie at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.
The victory for the defending champions means Al Ahli look set to finish second in the standings while defeat didn’t prove costly for Shabab Al Ahli as they were confirmed of their Round of 16 spot following fellow UAE side Sharjah FC’s shock defeat to PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan.
Al Duhail SC’s Round of 16 hopes were left hanging by a thread following a 3-2 defeat to Al Shorta.
The defeat left Qatar’s Al Duhail seventh in the West Zone standings on eight points but they will be denied progression if fellow Qatari sides win their concluding League Stage matches on Tuesday.
Al Shorta, who came from behind to clinch victory, signed off in style with the Iraqi side notching their first win in the final match of their campaign.