Al Hilal Edges Nasaf 3-2 in Thrilling ACL Match
Al Hilal came from behind to secure a thrilling 3-2 win over Nasaf, maintaining their perfect start in the Asian Champions League Elite. Meanwhile, defending champions Al-Ahli drew 2-2 with Al-Duhail in Doha.
Al Hilal secure thrilling comeback win as holders Al Ahli draw in Asian Champions League...
Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal secured a late 3-2 win over Uzbek hosts Nasaf to maintain their perfect start to the league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite on Monday as champions Al-Ahli drew 2-2 with Al-Duhail in Doha.
Qatar's Al-Gharafa notched up a 2-0 win against Al Shorta from Iraq and Iran's Tractor FC drew 0-0 with Al Wahda from the United Arab Emirates in the second round of league phase matches of the continental championship.
Javokhir Sidikov equalized for Pakhtakor on the hour mark with a clever move, rounding Yassine Bounou before scoring. However, Al-Hilal's Marcos Leonardo sealed the win with a decisive first-time finish, courtesy of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's precise pass. This match saw Al-Hilal come from behind to win 3-2 against Pakhtakor, showcasing their determination and skillm
“It was a good game on a difficult pitch,” said Al-Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly. “We knew that this team had made it difficult for Al Ahli in the first game, we knew it was a dangerous team.
“We scored two times but they came back two times so it was difficult. But in the end we scored the third goal and it was an important win today.”
Three goals to secure the three points in the ACLElite 🤩💙#NASvHIL 🔹 pic.twitter.com/Kvib96EX6d
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) September 29, 2025
Al Ahli and Al-Duhail played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in a back-and-forth match. Edmilson Junior gave Al-Duhail the lead in the 25th minute, but Al Ahli responded with two quick goals before halftime. Matheus Goncalves leveled the score in the 42nd minute with a precise finish, and Riyad Mahrez doubled the lead four minutes later, capitalizing on a goalkeeper error.
However, Al-Duhail fought back in the second half, with Krzysztof Piatek scoring a crucial header three minutes into the half to earn his team a point. The draw sees Al Ahli move to four points after winning their opener against Nasaf, while Al-Duhail earns their first point in the league phase.
Full Time 🔚
— Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) September 29, 2025
Al Duhail 2️⃣ - 2️⃣ #AlAhli#AlDuhail_AlAhli #AFC_Champions_League_Elite pic.twitter.com/4NO6X7Xhsy
Al-Gharafa secured a 2-0 win over Al Shorta in Doha, with former Real Madrid striker Joselu opening the scoring three minutes into the second half. He slotted the ball home from close range after Yacine Brahimi's clever pass forced a defensive error. Ferjani Sassi doubled Al Gharafa's lead, rising unmarked to head home Brahimi's pinpoint cross from a free kick.
This victory marked Al Gharafa's first win of the campaign, following a loss to Sharjah FC earlier in the month. The Qatari club's success in this match saw them capitalize on Al Shorta's defensive lapses, showcasing their attacking prowess.
The AFC Champions League Elite's top eight finishers in both West and East Asia will advance to the knockout rounds in March. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will be played on a centralized basis in Saudi Arabia in late April.
In other matches, Al-Gharafa of Qatar defeated Al Shorta of Iraq 2-0, while Tractor FC of Iran and Al Wahda of the UAE played out a 0-0 draw.
Asian Champions League Results
- Al Hilal vs Nasaf: 3-2
- Al-Ahli vs Al-Duhail: 2-2
- Al-Gharafa vs Al Shorta: 2-0
- Tractor FC vs Al Wahda: 0-0
These matches mark an exciting development in the Asian Champions League, showcasing the competitive spirit of participating teams.
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