Al-Hilal newcomers Darwin Nunez and Theo Hernandez scored in the second half when the Saudi Pro League side was recovered to beat Al-Duhail 2-1 in his Asian Champions League-Elite opener in Riyad on Tuesday.
The Qataris had taken a 37th minute lead by Adil Boulbina, but Quickfire objectives from Nunez and Hernandez sealed the points for Simone Ingazhi’s side.
Al-Hilal dominated the opening fairs, but it was Al-Duhail who took the lead.
Boulbina locked the search card from Youssouf Sabaly from deep in his own half to surpass the receding Joao Annaloo, so keeper Yassine Bounou was completed to score from a tight corner with a composed finish.
The home team thought it was leveled in a stopping time when the Turkish defender Yusuf Akicicek hit a bright shot in the bottom corner, only for the attempt to be excluded for an infringement in the structure.
Half-time replacement Nunez did the level, the former Liverpool Forward ended a movement that also finished Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and resulted in Malcom who cut the ball back for the Uruguayan to float his shot along Salah Zakaria.
Read also | Major League Soccer: Lionel Messi Bags Doel and assist as Inter Miami Seattle Sounders beats
Hernandez laid Al-Hilal at the front when he punished a poor defensive header, who hit his volley from the edge of the area to the Kingdom of Arena grass mat before the ball zipped the ball past Zakaria.
Al-Hilal moved alongside colleague Saudis and title defender Al-Ahli, Plus Emirati couple Sharjah and Al-Wahda, on three points in the Western League classification after the opening round of competitions.
The competition uses the Swiss League format to determine the eight qualifications for the next phase, which will be played in March, from the opening round of 12 teams.
Earlier Iran’s tractor kept 1-1 with host Shabab al-Ahli in Dubai despite playing a large part of the second half with 10 men.
Tomislav Strkalj placed a tractor in the front with a sizzling strike from outside the penalty area that goalkeeper Hamad al-Meqbaali gave little chance.
The straight red card from Domagoj Drozdek for a lung on Shabab al-Ahli’s Saeid Ezatolahi left the Iranians short-handed from the 51st minute and 14 minutes later, the thuis team was made by Guilherme Bala after a quickly taken free kick. ((
Published on September 17, 2025
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(935x679:937x681)/The-Mandalorian-and-Grogu-092225-03-56732100165a4a5b9f86847de7137d47.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Pedro Pascal y Grogu regresan al trailer de «The Mandalorian y Grogu»")
