Al-Hilal extended their flawless start to the Asian Champions League Elite with a composed 2-1 victory over Al-Gharafa in Doha on Monday, strengthening their position at the top of the western league phase standings.
A fast start from Salem Al-Dawsari set the tone for Simone Inzaghi’s side, as the Al-Hilal captain rose highest in the ninth minute to head home Joao Cancelo’s precise delivery from the right byline. The visitors doubled their advantage midway through the second half when Kaio César unleashed a powerful long-range strike that beat Khalifa Ababacar in the 66th minute.
Although Ayoub Al-Ouwi pulled one back deep into stoppage time, the late goal was merely a consolation as Al-Hilal sealed their fourth consecutive victory of the campaign.
The win takes Al-Hilal to 12 points, maintaining a two-point lead over Al-Wahda of the United Arab Emirates. The top eight teams from the 12-team western league phase will progress to the knockout rounds in March, and the Saudi champions look firmly on course to qualify.
Elsewhere, Al-Duhail picked up their first win of the competition with a commanding 4-1 triumph over Shabab Al-Ahli, handing Paulo Sousa’s previously unbeaten side their first defeat.
Edmilson Junior opened the scoring after just two minutes, racing down the left flank before cutting inside to curl a stunning right-footed shot into the top corner. Benjamin Bourigeaud added a second six minutes before halftime with a fierce drive from 25 yards, though Breno Cascardo’s header shortly after gave Shabab Al-Ahli hope.
That hope was quickly extinguished when Adil Boulbina struck emphatically in the 57th minute to restore Al-Duhail’s two-goal cushion, and Luis Alberto capped off the performance with a late goal in added time.
Reflecting on the victory, Edmilson Junior praised his team’s display:
“This is our first win in the Asian Champions League and the whole team played very well. When we perform like this, we’re a very good side — we just need to keep going.”
In Qarshi, Al-Wahda continued their impressive run with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Nasaf. The hosts took the lead in the 43rd minute through Sardorbek Bakhromov, who curled in a superb strike from 20 yards.
Al-Wahda responded shortly after the break when Favour Ogbu rose to meet a cross with a well-placed header to level the score. The UAE side pushed hard for a winner and were rewarded in the 89th minute, as substitute Caio Canedo reacted quickest to nod home after goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov parried Mohammad Ghorbani’s initial shot.
The result marked Al-Wahda’s third victory of the competition, keeping them within striking distance of Al-Hilal at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, Tractor FC climbed to third place after securing a narrow 1-0 win over Al-Shorta of Iraq. Mehdi Torabi scored the decisive goal in the 26th minute, guiding Dragan Skocic’s team to a crucial victory that strengthens their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
With Al-Hilal setting the pace and several contenders finding form, the Asian Champions League Elite’s western league phase is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive race for qualification — but for now, Al-Hilal remain the standard-bearers of dominance and consistency.
