In a match that had fans on the edge of their seats, Al-Hilal clinched a wild 5-4 victory over defending champions Al-Ain in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday. The spotlight was all on Salem Al-Dawsari, who netted a sensational hat-trick, overshadowing Neymar's much-anticipated return to competitive football. 🎩⚽
After nearly a year sidelined due to a cruciate ligament rupture, Neymar made his comeback as a 77th-minute substitute. But it was Al-Dawsari's electrifying performance that stole the thunder, as Al-Hilal battled through the closing stages with just 10 men on the pitch. 💪
\"There were a lot of goals, a lot of chances, and we managed to win the game with one player less in the end, so it's a big win for us,\" said Al-Hilal striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after the nail-biter. 🗣️
The action kicked off with Renan Lodi firing a low strike to give Al-Hilal the lead in the 26th minute. Al-Ain's Soufiane Rahimi leveled the score before halftime, but injury-time goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Al-Dawsari sent Al-Hilal into the break with a two-goal cushion. 🚀
The second half was a rollercoaster! 🎢 Substitute Mateo Sanabria pulled one back for Al-Ain, but Al-Dawsari responded instantly with another goal. Rahimi wasn't done either, completing his own hat-trick with a late penalty after Al-Hilal's Ali Al-Bulahyi saw red for a handball. 🟥⚡
Neymar's entry added extra spice to an already fiery match, but it was Al-Dawsari's day to shine. The win keeps Al-Hilal perfect after three rounds, sitting pretty on top of the league standings in West Asia alongside fellow Saudi side Al-Ahli, who secured a 2-1 win over Qatar's Al-Rayyan. 🏆
With the revamped competition heating up, football fans can't wait to see what's next! 🔥⚽🌍
Reference(s):
Al-Dawsari's hat-trick overshadows Neymar's return, seals Al-Hilal win
cgtn.com
