Al-Hilal secured a fourth straight Asian Champions League Elite win, defeating Qatar’s Al-Gharafa 2-1 to stay top of the western league phase.
DOHA: Al-Hilal earned a 2-1 victory over Qatar’s Al-Gharafa on Monday to maintain their perfect start in the Asian Champions League Elite western league phase.
Salem Al-Dawsari headed Al-Hilal into a ninth-minute lead from Joao Cancelo’s cross.
Kaio Cesar extended the visitors’ advantage with a long-range strike in the 66th minute.
Ayoub Al-Ouwi’s 97th-minute consolation goal could not prevent Al-Hilal’s fourth consecutive win.
The result gives Al-Hilal 12 points, two ahead of second-placed Al-Wahda in the 12-team standings.
The top eight teams from the league phase will progress to March’s knockout rounds.
Al-Duhail claimed their first competition victory by thrashing previously unbeaten Shabab Al-Ahli 4-1.
Edmilson Junior opened the scoring with a superb early strike for the Qatari side.
Benjamin Bourigeaud added a second goal six minutes before half-time.
Breno Cascardo’s header reduced the deficit just three minutes later.
Adil Boulbina restored Al-Duhail’s two-goal cushion with a powerful 57th-minute effort.
Luis Alberto completed the scoring two minutes into added time.
Edmilson Junior praised his team’s performance after their first Asian Champions League win.
Al-Wahda needed a late Caio Canedo header to secure a 2-1 comeback win against Uzbekistan’s Nasaf.
Sardorbek Bakhromov had given Nasaf a 43rd-minute lead with a curling 20-yard strike.
Favour Ogbu equalised for Al-Wahda seven minutes into the second half.
Caio Canedo headed the winner in the 89th minute after the goalkeeper saved an initial shot.
Iran’s Tractor FC moved to third place with a 1-0 victory over Iraq’s Al-Shorta.
Mehdi Torabi scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute. – Reuters
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