Al Hilal Starts Asian Champions League Campaign with 2-1 Win

Nunez and Hernandez lead Al Hilal to victory against Al-Duhail

Al Hilal kicks off its Asian Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Al-Duhail, thanks to second-half goals from Nunez and Hernandez.

Al Hilal is currently tied with fellow Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli, as well as Emirati teams Sharjah...

Al Hilal secured a thrilling 2-1 win over Al-Duhail in their Asian Champions League Elite opener, thanks to second-half goals from Darwin Nunez and Theo Hernandez. Al-Duhail had taken the lead in the 37th minute through Adil Boulbina's strike, but Al Hilal responded swiftly with Nunez and Hernandez's quickfire goals, showcasing their attacking prowess.

The match was a highly anticipated encounter, with Al Hilal looking to make a strong statement in the competition. Simone Inzaghi's side demonstrated their resilience and determination, ultimately securing the win in front of their home crowd in Riyadh. The victory marked a promising start to Al Hilal's campaign, and the team will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures.

Al Hilal started the match strongly, dominating the opening exchanges. However, Al-Duhail's Boulbina caught them off guard with a stunning long-ball goal. Youssouf Sabaly's deep pass from his own half found Boulbina, who outpaced Joao Cancelo and skillfully rounded goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to score with a composed finish from a tight angle.

The home side thought they had equalized in stoppage time when Yusuf Akicicek lashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner. However, the effort was ruled out for an infringement in the build-up, leaving Al Hilal to rue a missed opportunity.

Read Also: Al Ahli Comes from Behind to Beat Nasaf 4-2

Al Hilal staged a remarkable comeback against Al-Duhail, with half-time substitute Darwin Nunez playing a crucial role in leveling the score. Nunez finished a beautifully crafted move that featured Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, culminating in Malcom cutting the ball back for the Uruguayan to score with a bobbling shot past Salah Zakaria.

𝗙𝗧 | 🇸🇦 Al Hilal 2️⃣-1️⃣ Al Duhail 🇶🇦

Al Hilal take all three points as Theo Hernandez’s winner proves decisive in Riyadh ⚡#ACLElite | #HILvDUH pic.twitter.com/KXGBk0NBA8

— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) September 16, 2025

Theo Hernandez then put Al Hilal in front, capitalizing on a poor defensive header. He thumped a volley from the edge of the area, which deflected off Ibrahima Bamba and sailed past Zakaria, securing a 2-1 win for Al Hilal. This victory marked a strong start for Al Hilal in the Asian Champions League Elite, with the team moving alongside fellow Saudis Al-Ahli and Emirati pairs Sharjah and Al-Wahda on three points in the western league standings.

Al Hilal is currently tied with fellow Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli, as well as Emirati teams Sharjah and Al Wahda, with three points each in the Western league standings. This comes after the first round of matches in the AFC Champions League Elite, which features a Swiss league format. The top eight teams will advance to the next phase in March.

In other action, Tractor FC from Iran held Shabab Al-Ahli to a 1-1 draw in Dubai, despite being reduced to 10 men for much of the second half. This match showcased Tractor FC's resilience and ability to compete against strong teams in the tournament.

𝗙𝗧 | 🇦🇪 Shabab Al Ahli 1️⃣-1️⃣ Tractor FC 🇮🇷

A hard-fought battle in Dubai ends level, with both sides settling for a point in their #ACLElite showdown!#SAHvTRA pic.twitter.com/vGa0E8HpOE

— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) September 16, 2025

Tractor FC took the lead in the 14th minute with Tomislav Strkalj's impressive strike from outside the penalty area. Strkalj's blistering shot gave goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqbaali little chance, catching the Shabab Al-Ahli defense off guard. Shojae Khalilzadeh assisted the goal with a well-placed pass.

The Iranians' advantage was short-lived, however, as Domagoj Drozdek received a straight red card in the 51st minute for a reckless lunge on Shabab Al-Ahli's Saeid Ezatolahi. Despite being down to 10 men, Tractor FC held on until Guilherme Bala scored a crucial equalizer for Shabab Al-Ahli in the 65th minute. Bala capitalized on a quickly taken free kick to level the score.