RIYADH: Al Ain reached the Asian Champions League final for the first time since 2016 with a 5-4 aggregate victory over four-time winners Al Hilal, despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Trailing 4-2 after their record 34-match winning run was ended in last week’s first leg, Al Hilal quickly cut the deficit through Ruben Neves’ fourth-minute penalty.
Brazilian Erik drew Al Ain level on the night, though, to leave runaway Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal with a mountain to climb in the second half.
But Salem Al Dawsari scored a rebound less than six minutes after the restart to give the hosts renewed hope.
Brazilian Michael and former Lazio star Sergei Milinkovic-Savic both went close as Al Hilal piled on the pressure, the latter seeing his effort cleared off the line.
Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa enjoyed a fine evening, making six saves, including from Michael and Mohamed Kanno late on.
The Emirati visitors clung on desperately through nine minutes of added time, with Eisa keeping out a Michael header in the 98th minute.
Hernan Crespo’s Al Ain will face either Yokohama F-Marinos or Koreans Ulsan Hyundai in the final in May as they bid for a second triumph in the competition and first since 2003.
Japanese club Yokohama trail 1-0 on aggregate heading into their semifinal second leg on Wednesday.
Al Ain knock out Al Hilal to reach Asian Champions League final
https://arab.news/j589j
Al Ain knock out Al Hilal to reach Asian Champions League final
- Hernan Crespo’s Al Ain will face either Yokohama F-Marinos or Koreans Ulsan Hyundai in the final in May
Salem Al-Dawsari shines as Saudi beat Oman in Arab Cup
- Al-Dawsari clipped a delightful cross for substitute Saleh Al-Shehri to strike the winner with a brilliant side-footed volley
- Morocco defeat Comoros 3-1, Kuwait and Egypt draw 1-1 on second day of tournament
DUBAI: Salem Al-Dawsari produced two assists to provide the difference as Saudi Arabia defeated Gulf rivals Oman 2-1 on the second day of the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.
The first half ended goalless with Al-Dawsari coming closest for Saudi with a header that missed the target. Oman had the ball in the net minutes from the break after Nawaf Al-Aqidi’s spilled save from Mohammed Al-Rawahi’s long-range effort fell to Essam Al-Subhi, but his finish was clearly from an offside position.
Saudi Arabia continued to be the more dominant team after the break and fans at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan would not have to wait too long for the first goal of the evening.
The breakthrough for Saudi finally came in the 55th minute after Al-Dawsari’s excellent cross from the left was powerfully headed in by Feras Al-Buraikan past Oman’s goalkeeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini.
Oman hit back with 20 minutes left when defender Ghanem Al-Habashi headed home, leaving Al-Aqidi rooted to the spot from close range.
The Green Falcons retook the lead six minutes later with the best move of the match. Al-Dawsari, having raced onto Abdullah Al-Khaibari’s precise pass into the Oman penalty area, clipped a delightful cross — from the same position as his earlier assist — for substitute Saleh Al-Shehri to finish with a brilliant side-footed volley.
Al-Dawsari could have crowned his man-of-the-match performance with a last-minute goal but his first-time volley from Al-Shehri’s squared pass struck the inside of the post and rebounded to safety.
He had another chance in added time when clean through on goal, but his attempted chip struck the advancing Al-Mukhaini’s chest.
In Group B’s other match, Morocco kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 win over Comoros at Khalifa International Stadium. The Atlas Lions raced into a three-goal lead by the break thanks to efforts from Soufiane Bouftini, Tarik Tissoudali and Karim El Berkaoui. Comoros reduced the deficit through Mohamed Boulacsoute’s own goal on 56 minutes but there was no addition to the score in the rest of the match.
Morocco lead Group B with three points, on goal difference from Saudi Arabia in second.
Earlier in the day Egypt and Kuwait shared the points after a 1-1 draw at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan. Kuwait took the lead through Fahad Al-Hajeri on 64 minutes but Egypt managed to claim a point thanks to Mohamed Magdy’s penalty two minutes from time.
