Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Riyadh: Nassir Al Shamrani scored twice and Thiago Neves another goal in a nine-minute spell in the second half as Al Hilal put themselves within touching distance of a first-ever appearance in the AFC Champions League final with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Al Ain on Tuesday.
Al Shamrani broke the deadlock with a fine finish in the 61st minute and added a second three minutes later to put the Saudi club in complete control in the first leg of the semi-final at King Fahd International Stadium.
Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa was then sent off for a challenge on Nawaf Al Abid and although Neves missed the resulting penalty, the Brazilian quickly redeemed himself by making it 3-0 for the hosts a minute later.
Al Ain's normally potent attack was completely stifled as they failed to score in an AFC Champions League match for the first time this year and they will require a remarkable turnaround of fortune in the return match in the United Arab Emirates in order to reach the final.
The first half was a niggly and physical affair with few chances of note for either team.
Al Hilal did go close to breaking the deadlock right at the end of the half as Neves hit the crossbar with a corner kick and Al Shamrani played a neat one-two with the Brazilian on the edge of the box before sending his effort against the right post.
Brazilian defender Digao tested Khaled Eisa with a low shot early in the second half but there was little in the way of goalmouth action until Al Shamrani fired his side ahead with a superb finish just after the hour mark.
Gathering the ball on the left of the box, the Al Hilal striker twisted past the challenge of Ismail Ahmed before launching a fierce shot from a narrow angle that flew past Eisa at his near post and went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Al Ain pushed forward in search of an equaliser but they were caught out on the counter-attack for a second goal just three minutes later. Neves played a fine through pass to Abdulla Zori and as Eisa came off his line to cut down the angle, the ball was centred into the six-yard box where Al Shamrani slid in just in front of Mohammed Fayez to score his ninth goal in this season's competition.
The Al Ain defence was reeling and worse was to follow just minutes later as Al Abid was sent clear and upended by Eisa as he bore down on goal. The Al Ain goalkeeper was sent off but his replacement Dawoud Sulaiman made an excellent save to deny Neves from the resulting penalty.
It was to be only a brief reprieve for the visitors though as their defence was exposed badly once again in the 70th minute as Al Shamrani laid off a pass for Neves who made amends for his penalty miss by slotting past Sulaiman from close range.
Al Ain averted further disaster in stoppage time when Sulaiman completely missed his clearance kick as Abdulaziz Al Dawsari bore down on goal but Fayez managed to hack the ball before the Al Hilal substitute could turn the ball into the net.
But with Abdullah Al Sdairy and the Al Hilal defence keeping a clean sheet for an eighth consecutive AFC Champions League game, the UAE side will face a huge uphill task to overturn the three-goal deficit in the second leg in Al Ain in a fortnight's time.
Photo: WSG