On Monday, Al-Hilal extended their winning streak in the AFC Champions League with a dominant 3-0 victory over Esteghlal F.C., solidifying their position at the top of the Western standings with 12 points.
Al-Hilal vs. Esteghlal F.C. Match Analysis
The game nearly had a dream start for Esteghlal F.C. In the 4th minute, Ramin Rezaein’s diving header hit the post, a close call that could have shifted the momentum early on. However, disaster struck as Rezaein injured himself, forcing Esteghlal to bring on Alireza Kooshki as his replacement.
Fifteen minutes into the game, Nasser Al-Dawsari delivered a well-placed cross, and Aleksandar Mitrović met it at the far post to score his second goal of the season, breaking the deadlock.
In the 24th minute, Tambakti sent another cross into the box, finding his teammate who managed to get a header on target. But Esteghlal’s Hosseini deflected it with his palm, denying Al-Hilal a second goal. Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus later introduced Neymar in the 60th minute, marking the Brazilian star’s long-awaited return after years of injury struggles.
Yet, it was Mitrović who stole the show. In the 74th minute, he completed his hat-trick with a header from a João Cancelo cross from the right wing, sealing the 3-0 victory for Al-Hilal.
Updated AFC Champions League Standings
Here’s how the standings look after the match:
-
Al-Hilal: 4 matches, 4 wins, 16 goals scored, 5 conceded, GD +11, 12 points.
-
Al-Ahli Saudi: 4 matches, 4 wins, 10 goals scored, 2 conceded, GD +8, 12 points.
-
Al Sadd: 4 matches, 2 wins, 2 losses, 5 goals scored, 3 conceded, GD +2, 8 points.
-
Al-Nassr: 3 matches, 2 wins, 1 draw, 4 goals scored, 2 conceded, GD +2, 7 points.
-
Al Wasl: 4 matches, 1 win, 1 draw, 4 goals scored, 4 conceded, GD 0, 7 points.
-
Al-Gharafa: 4 matches, 1 win, 3 losses, 6 goals scored, 8 conceded, GD -2, 4 points.
-
Esteghlal F.C.: 4 matches, 1 draw, 3 losses, 3 goals scored, 6 conceded, GD -3, 3 points.
With Mitrović’s hat-trick, Al-Hilal remains unbeaten, and their fans are eagerly watching as they maintain their lead in the AFC Champions League.
