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
Australia injury woes continue with skipper Marsh ruled out of World Cup opener
- Former captain Steve Smith will join squad in Sri Lanka as cover while Travis Head captains team
- Marsh sustained direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week, Cricket Australia says
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh will miss the opening game of their Twenty20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on Wednesday with a groin injury, Cricket Australia (CA) said.
Steve Smith will now join the squad in Sri Lanka as cover, with fellow batsman Travis Head captaining the side at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium and Matthew Renshaw coming into the team.
Marsh sustained a direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week and is experiencing pain and discomfort which is restricting his movement, the board added.
“Scans have confirmed internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice,” CA said in a statement.
Head said at the toss later that Marsh was unlucky to miss out and appeared to play down the seriousness of the injury. He did not give a timeline for his teammate’s return.
“Unfortunately Mitchie Marsh has copped a blow at training a couple of days ago and no one has been willing to massage it out for him,” Head joked after winning the toss and opting to bat.
“He’s the unfortunate one but the rest (of the side) is the same. It’s nice to have a couple of boys back from the Pakistan series. Strong team and we’re looking forward to going well.”
Australia are also without fast bowler Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the event after failing to recover from a niggling back injury. Fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood lost a race to be fit after Achilles and hamstring injuries.
Mitchell Starc has quit the format, leaving them without their top quick bowlers.
The big-hitting Tim David was also ruled out of the first game as he returns from a hamstring strain.
The 2021 champions take on Zimbabwe in their second match on Friday.
