AFC Champions League Elite
The result sees the Saudi Pro League side, who confirmed their Round of 16 qualification with three matches to spare, extend their lead at the summit to 18 points, while Sharjah stayed on seven.
Jose Morais made three changes to the side that stunned defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC on Matchday Five with Igor Coronado, Ousmane Camara and Caio Lucas all returning to the starting line-up, while Al Hilal made five changes with Ruben Neves deployed in midfield.
The home side controlled the narrative from the start with Coronado testing Mohammed Al Yami in the sixth minute, with the Al Hilal keeper tipping over the Brazilian’s free-kick over the bar.
Al Hilal almost capitalised in the 14th minute after Neves pounced on a stray clearance from Shaheen Abdalla and followed up with a powerful drive from distance, forcing Adel Al Hosani to spill his save right into the path of Marcos Leonardo, who squandered from close range.
Caio Lucas should have scored in the 28th minute when he collected Khaled Ebraheim’s pass, sidestepped Yusuf Akcicek, only to see his effort on goal undone by Al Yami’s agility.
Sharjah thought they had taken the lead just after the half-hour mark with Abdalla sending a long ball through to Coronado who held off Ali Al Bulayhi before striking the ball into the roof of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Hosani then showed his quality, foiling a solid build-up from Al Hilal in the 41st minute with a timely intervention on Nunes before diving low to keep out Theo Hernandez’s volley.
Al Hilal came under pressure in the 55th minute with Al Yami producing a fine save to deny Camara’s curling shot before foiling Majid Surour’s powerful effort from above the box.
Sharjah came knocking again with Caio Lucas almost finding a way through in the 68th minute before being flagged offside while at the other end, Malcolm, Hernandez and Leonardo all saw their efforts foiled.
Al Hilal finally broke the deadlock in the 81st minute when Cancelo broke into the box and set up Malcolm, who thumped the ball into the top right corner to seal the three points.
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