AL-AIN: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal saw their record run of 34 successive victories end on Wednesday at the hands of UAE’s Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League.
Morocco striker Soufiane Rahimi was the star of the show after he scored a first-half hat-trick in a 4-2 win for Al-Ain in their semifinal first leg.
Al-Hilal, the four-time Asian champions, last failed to win a game in September last year when they drew a Saudi Pro League match.
Wednesday’s game had been postponed 24 hours after torrential rain swamped the UAE and the record-setting Saudis must have wished it had kept raining.
Rahimi opened the scoring after just six minutes from a pass by Yahia Nader and added a second from the penalty spot 20 minutes later after he was brought down by goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais who was yellow carded for his troubles.
Rahimi completed his hat-trick in the 40th minute, again from a penalty after Ali Al-Bulayhi chopped down Brazilian defender Erik in the area.
Al-Hilal reduced the deficit early in the second period when Malcom scored from a pass by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
However, the Saudis conceded yet another penalty just before the hour mark with Kalidou Koulibaly bringing down Rahimi.
This time Paraguayan star Alejandro Romero took over spot-kick duties to make it 4-1 for Al-Ain, the inaugural winners of the Asian Champions League in 2003.
Salem Al-Dawsari kept Al-Hilal in the tie ahead of next Tuesday’s return leg by scoring his team’s second goal of the night in the 78th minute.
Earlier Wednesday, South Korea’s Ulsan claimed a slender lead in their semifinal with a 1-0 first leg win over Japan’s Yokohama F-Marinos.
Al-Hilal’s record 34-match winning run ends at Al-Ain
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Al-Hilal’s record 34-match winning run ends at Al-Ain
- Morocco striker Soufiane Rahimi was the star of the show after he scored a first-half hat-trick in a 4-2 win for Al-Ain in their semifinal first leg
- Al-Hilal, the four-time Asian champions, last failed to win a game in September last year when they drew a Saudi Pro League match
Arteta hails Madueke’s ‘magic moments’ after Champions League double
- “When you talk about individual quality and individual action and magic moments, that’s it,” Arteta said
- Madueke has netted three times in two Champions League matches
LONDON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta showered praise on Noni Madueke, highlighting his dribbling prowess and willingness to take on players after the winger scored twice in a 3-0 Champions League victory at Belgium’s Club Brugge.
Madueke opened the scoring in Wednesday’s match with a thunderous strike in the 25th minute.
“Unbelievable goal. When you talk about individual quality and individual action and magic moments, that’s it,” Arteta told reporters. “A player that is able to pick the ball that far, dribble past people and finish with the quality and the power that he’s done.”
The 23-year-old then extended Arsenal’s lead in the second half with a header from close range.
Madueke, who joined the club from Chelsea in July, has netted three times in two Champions League matches — the first in a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich last month following his return from a knee injury.
Madueke started on the right flank against Brugge, a position usually occupied by England international Bukayo Saka, and Arteta said some healthy competition between the two would help both players maintain a high level.
“They both have different qualities as well, and it’s great because we’re going to need them,” the Spanish manager added.
“We are playing every three days, and players with that freshness and with that bite in the teeth as well. Understanding that they have to perform at their level, and this is the standard that we set. It’s something really good...
“It’s about consistency. It’s not a game, it’s two games, three games. It’s when you do ten games in a row every three days and that’s the level that we have to hit.”
Premier League leaders Arsenal next host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
