Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal won 4-0 against Iraq’s Al-Shorta in Riyadh on Tuesday to book their place in the knockout rounds of the Asian Champions League Elite with a fifth win in a row as Al-Wahda from the UAE also confirmed their progress.
Marcos Leonardo scored twice to move Simone Inzaghi’s side on to a maximum 15 points from the opening five matches in the 12-team western league phase and qualify for the last 16.
The Brazilian opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time with a bullet header past Hasan Ahmed while Ahmed Yahia’s 61st-minute sending off for a second bookable offense left Al-Shorta with what proved to be an insurmountable task.
Goalkeeper Ahmed allowed Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header to slip through his hands as Al-Hilal doubled their lead two minutes later, while Leonardo nodded in the third with 18 minutes left and Cancelo hit the fourth in added time.
The top eight finishers in both the western and eastern league phases advance to March’s Round of 16, with the quarter-finals, semis and final to be played on a centralized basis in Saudi Arabia in April.
Dusan Tadic inspired Al-Wahda to come back from a goal down in the first half to defeat Qatar’s Al-Sadd 3-1 in Abu Dhabi and also confirm the Emirati outfit’s place in the knockout rounds.
Brazilian striker Claudinho had given Al-Sadd, under new manager Roberto Mancini, the lead from the penalty spot in the third minute of first-half stoppage time but Tadic levelled 10 minutes after the restart.
The former Southampton playmaker showed his class with a strike on the turn that flew into the top corner before hitting his team’s second with another emphatic finish 11 minutes later.
Tadic then turned provider with three minutes left to allow Caio Canedo to net their third, sealing the win and confirming Al-Wahda’s progress with 13 points from five matches.
“When we don’t give our opponents the initiative we are much better and this is the way Al-Wahda should play,” said Tadic. “This is how we win the game.
“In the first half I believe we gave them too much space and then everyone can play football. In the second half we didn’t give them space and we showed we’re a better team than them.”
Perfect Al-Hilal beat Al-Shorta to book Asian Champions League last-16 spot
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Perfect Al-Hilal beat Al-Shorta to book Asian Champions League last-16 spot
- The top eight finishers in both the western and eastern league phases advance to March’s Round of 16, with the quarter-finals, semis and final to be played on a centralized basis in Saudi Arabia in April
Wissa back for DR Congo’s World Cup playoff
- The Congolese were eliminated in the round of 16 at the tournament in Morocco
- They now have a chance to become the 10th African country at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US starting in June
BRAZZAVILLE: Democratic Republic of Congo striker Yoane Wissa has returned to the squad for their World Cup playoff this month after missing the Africa Cup of Nations finals at the turn of the year.
The Newcastle United forward suffered a knee injury playing for his country against Senegal in a World Cup qualifier in early September, only returning to action in December, and was not chosen for the Cup of Nations in December and January.
The Congolese were eliminated in the round of 16 at the tournament in Morocco.
They now have a chance to become the 10th African country at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US starting in June.
They are competing in the inter-confederation playoff in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 31 against either Jamaica or New Caledonia, who meet five days earlier.
The winners of the March 31 game qualify for the World Cup and will be in Group K with Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.
DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre named 26 players for the playoff with defender Dylan Batubinsika of Greek side AEL and Watford right back Jeremy Ngakia returning.
Elche’s former England under-21 midfielder Grady Diangana, who missed the Cup of Nations finals, is also included.
