AFC Champions League Elite
A brace from Ollie Watkins sealed the win for Al Hilal, who climbed to second in the West standings. Shabab Al Ahli also have nine points but sit fourth on goal difference.
#ACLElite | Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 2-0 Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)
“We controlled the game against a team that had won their first three matches. I thought we were excellent throughout, and this win is a step forward for us,” said Inzaghi.
“With so many games close together, I rotated the squad. We were without Ruben Neves, (Gabriel) Martinelli, (Crysencio) Summerville and Salem (Al Dawsari), but everyone who came in played well."
“With so many games close together, I rotated the squad. We were without Ruben Neves, (Gabriel) Martinelli, (Crysencio) Summerville and Salem (Al Dawsari), but everyone who came in played well."
Inzaghi rotated his squad to manage a congested schedule and singled out youngster Sabri Dahl for praise, explaining that he took him off as a precaution after the player was booked.
“Sabri Dahl was excellent. I took him off because he was on a yellow card and I didn’t want to risk him being sent off. He’s a promising young player and I want him to keep working hard.
“We’re pleased with the performance, and we’ll keep working on how we deal with set-pieces.”
“Sabri Dahl was excellent. I took him off because he was on a yellow card and I didn’t want to risk him being sent off. He’s a promising young player and I want him to keep working hard.
“We’re pleased with the performance, and we’ll keep working on how we deal with set-pieces.”
Shabab Al Ahli head coach Andre Jardine felt his side could have made it a closer contest but conceded that Al Hilal were more clinical.
“It was a difficult game against a top side. Both teams made it an entertaining match, but against an opponent of that quality, mistakes can be costly,” said Jardine.
“We rotated some players but stuck to our game plan. We made a few mistakes, and I felt the game could have been closer. Ultimately, it came down to who made the most of their chances, and Al Hilal did that better than we did.”
“It was a difficult game against a top side. Both teams made it an entertaining match, but against an opponent of that quality, mistakes can be costly,” said Jardine.
“We rotated some players but stuck to our game plan. We made a few mistakes, and I felt the game could have been closer. Ultimately, it came down to who made the most of their chances, and Al Hilal did that better than we did.”
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