AFC Champions League
Just like they did in the first leg in Isfahan, Al Hilal came from a goal down to overcome Sepahan who once more found themselves finishing the game with 10 men, the Saudis advancing with a 6-2 aggregate score to a quarter-final meeting with domestic rivals Al Ittihad.
A mistake from Mohammed Kanno nearly complicated things for the hosts inside the first minute as the midfielder was dispossessed in his own half, allowing Farshad Ahmadzadeh to advance with the ball and curl towards the far corner, but the retreating Ruben Neves throw his body in the way.
Al Hilal’s first big chance came when Neves delivered a pinpoint cross from the right for Aleksandar Mitrovic who climbed high and headed it towards goal, only to be denied by goalkeeper Payam Niazmand. At the other end, an identical chance for Sepahan saw Ramin Rezaeian’s cross headed by Shahriyar Moghanlou and saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Kanno was the closest of the 22 players on the pitch to opening the scoring in the first period. The Saudi international midfielder got on the end of a Neves free-kick and fired with his left from close range, but watched his effort cannon off the upright and go behind for a goal-kick.
In the final minutes of the half, a well-worked attacking move for Al Hilal saw Mitrovic set up the onrushing Michael down the right, but the Brazilian winger’s drilled finish passed just wide off the post.
Sepahan started the second half with a bang, taking the lead on the night after Ali Asghar Aarabi’s cross from the left was headed across the mouth of goal by Rezaeian, falling for Ahmadzadeh who was left with the simplest of tasks to tap home from point-blank, reducing the aggregate deficit to one goal.
The Iranian side, however, had their work cut out for them as Siavash Yazdani received his marching orders in the 71st minute. The centre-back brought down Malcom with the Brazilian winger through on goal, and following a VAR check, the initial yellow card was upgraded to red.
It took just five minutes for Salem Al Dawsari to capitalise on his side’s numerical superiority; the winger picked up Ali Al Bulayhi’s pass on the edge of the area, controlling and turning before expertly placing it into the back of the net despite Niazmand’s best efforts.
Al Hilal took the lead for the first time in the game eight minutes from time when a poor defensive clearance saw the ball fall to Neves 25 yards out, and the Portuguese midfielder wasted no time in controlling and firing a thunderous effort that nestled in the back of the net.
The win was secured in added time as Mitrovic was served the ball on a silver platter following a cross from Saud Abdulhamid and the Serbian forward made no mistake from close range, hammering home for his seventh goal of the campaign, sealing the 3-1 victory.
