In the AFC Champions Elite, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal defeated Iranian team Esteghlal on Monday thanks to three goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic, keeping their perfect start to the tournament. The star of Brazil, Neymar, was substituted in the second half but was later taken off. After missing nearly a year due to rupturing ligaments in his left knee, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward made his second appearance in two weeks. At Kingdom Arena, Neymar, 32, entered the game after 58 minutes, with Serbian striker Mitrovic having already given Al Hilal a 2-0 lead with a double in the first half.
But minutes after being treated on the sidelines, Brazil’s all-time top scorer was replaced on minute 86, seemingly due to a thigh issue.
He clutched his right hamstring as he departed the field.
With four wins from four, the victory puts Saudi champions Al Hilal, who have won the championship four times in a row, at the top of the West Asian rankings.
Al Ahli, another Saudi team, promised Monday that they will stay up with their rivals from Riyadh. In a 5-1 victory over Iraq’s Al Shorta, Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez both scored twice to put the side up 12 points out of a possible 12.
after King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, former Liverpool player Firmino scored the goal after 14 minutes with a quick header from Ziyad Al Johani’s cross.
The Brazilian’s eight-match goalless skid came to an end with the goal.
Eleven minutes later, Al Ahli had a chance to take a 2-0 lead, but Ahmed Basil, the goalie for Al Shorta, saved Franck Kessie’s penalty. Sajjad Jassim gave the visitors the equalizer almost immediately.
Long into the first half, Firmino gave the home team the lead again. Then, in 12 minutes of the second half, Al Ahli scored three goals to completely overwhelm Al Shorta.
Firmino first set up Feras Al Buraikan, a Saudi Arabian international, before Mahrez, a former Manchester City winger, scored twice in quick succession shortly after the hour.
In other news, Iran’s Persepolis and Qatar’s Al Gharafa played to the same scoreline in Dubai, while UAE team Al Wasl was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Al Sadd of Qatar.
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