Al Hilal registered a 2-1 dwelling victory towards Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran, whereas Mumbai City conceded a 1-2 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Navbahor to put an finish to a disappointing match through which they misplaced all six video games they performed.
Four-time winners Al Hilal ended their Asian Champions League group marketing campaign unbeaten thanks to a 2-1 dwelling victory towards Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran on Monday.
The Saudi facet, runners-up final yr, had already certified for the final 16 as Group D winners, permitting supervisor Jorge Jesus the luxurious of beginning in-kind striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and attacking midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on the bench.
Ruben Neves, one other summer season signing, was not a part of the squad, with Brazil celebrity Neymar out for almost all of the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee on worldwide responsibility in October.
However, Al Hilal wanted solely 4 minutes to take the lead towards Nassaji Mazandaran on the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, when winger Michael completed Mohammed Al Breik’s low cross on the again publish.
Al Hilal, who changed Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou at half-time, doubled their benefit on 54 minutes courtesy of a intelligent half volley from reigning Asian Player of the Year Salem Al Dawsari.
Mitrovic and Milinkovic-Savic had been launched on the hour mark, though it was not sufficient to stop Nassaji Mazandaran from pulling a objective again 13 minutes from time. Mahmoud Ghaed Rahmati halved the deficit with a thunderous volley following a clearance from Al Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
In the group’s different match, Uzbekistan’s Navbahor booked their place within the final 16 with a 2-1 victory towards Mumbai City in Pune.
While Navbahor progress by ending second, Mumbai ended their marketing campaign with six defeats from six matches.
In Group B, Uzbek facet Nasaf Qarshi certified for the knockouts by drawing 2-2 towards Qatar’s Al Sadd in a match that featured a objective for every crew in harm-time. UAE membership Sharjah, in the meantime, dropped to third and thus exit the match after they let slip the lead to lose 2-1 to Jordan’s Al Faisaly in Amman.
Elsewhere, Iraq’s Air Force Club condemned Uzbekistan’s AGMK to a sixth successive Group C defeat with a 3-2 victory in Erbil. Both groups went into the match with none probability of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Al Ittihad concluded Group C with a 2-1 win towards Iran’s Sepahan in Mecca.
Former Celtic winger Jota grabbed the winner for the Saudi champions, who welcomed again Egypt worldwide Ahmed Hegazy from lengthy-time period harm.
Also in Group C, Iraq’s Air Force Club condemned Uzbekistan’s AGMK to a sixth successive defeat with a 3-2 victory in Erbil. Both groups went into the match with none probability of advancing to the knockout rounds.
The 10 group winners and the six greatest second-positioned groups superior to the knockout rounds, which start in February.
The closing takes place, throughout two legs, in May.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
