Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Al-Hilal showcased their dominance in Asian football with a convincing 4-0 victory over Al-Shorta of Iraq, securing their place in the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League Elite. The match, held in Riyadh on Tuesday, saw Al-Hilal maintain their perfect record in the tournament, clinching their fifth consecutive win.
Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo was the star of the show, netting two goals to propel Al-Hilal to a comfortable victory. Leonardo's first goal came in the dying moments of the first half, a powerful header that left Al-Shorta's goalkeeper Hasan Ahmed with no chance. He later added a third, further cementing Al-Hilal's lead.
Al-Shorta's task was made all the more difficult when Ahmed Yahia was sent off in the 61st minute for a second bookable offense. Shortly after, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic capitalized on a goalkeeping error to double Al-Hilal's advantage. Joao Cancelo rounded off the scoring with a fourth goal in added time.
With this win, Al-Hilal secured their spot in the last 16 of the Asian Champions League Elite, with a maximum of 15 points from their first five matches. The top eight teams from both the Western and Eastern league phases will advance to the Round of 16, which will be played in March. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in April.
Al-Hilal's victory comes on the heels of a hard-fought 2-1 win against Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League. In that match, Al-Fateh took an early lead, but Al-Hilal responded with goals from Darwin Nunez and a late penalty from Ruben Neves to secure the three points. Despite Nasser Al-Dawsari's late red card, Al-Hilal held on for the win, demonstrating their resilience and determination.
Al-Hilal's recent form has been impressive, and they are currently in second place in the Saudi Pro League, just one point behind Al-Ittihad. They have also set records for the longest unbeaten streak in domestic competitions, surpassing Al-Ahli's previous record. In March 2024, Al-Hilal celebrated a world record of 28 consecutive wins. Their winning streak across all competitions reached 34 victories before being halted in April.
The team's success has been attributed to the strong leadership of coach Simone Inzaghi and the contributions of key players such as Marcos Leonardo, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Ruben Neves. Al-Hilal's dominance extends beyond domestic competitions, as they aim for their fifth AFC Champions League title, a feat that would further solidify their status as one of Asia's top clubs.
Looking ahead, Al-Hilal will be a force to be reckoned with in the Asian Champions League Elite knockout stages. Their combination of attacking firepower and defensive solidity makes them a formidable opponent for any team. As they continue their quest for silverware, Al-Hilal will undoubtedly be looking to add more chapters to their already impressive history.
