Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal announced they have parted ways with coach Ramon Diaz on Wednesday, following the side’s 1-0 defeat to Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal on Matchday Two of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
A statement published on the club’s official Twitter account thanked the Argentine for his efforts which brought the Riyadh-based club a domestic league and cup double in addition to a spot in the 2017 AFC Champions League final which they lost to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
Al Hilal find themselves bottom of Group D in the continental competition after two matchdays, with a goalless home draw against Al Ain followed by the 1-0 reversal against Esteghlal on Tuesday leaving them with one point.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Muscat: Esteghlal recorded a hard-fought 1-0 victory against 2017 runners-up Al Hilal thanks to a goal from Mame Thiam on Matchday Two of their 2018 AFC Champions League Group D clash on Tuesday.
Al Hilal came close to opening the scoring in the final minutes of the first half when new signing Achraf Bencharki set up Ali Al Bulayhi to cut inside and strike from the edge of box, but saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati.
Esteghlal kicked-off the second half with a bang, taking the lead through an own goal by defender Abdullah Al Hafith after Thiam’s effort on target was deflected off the defender to wrongfoot goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi just seconds after the restart.
The visitors’ troubles were doubled when goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was sent off in the 67th minute after handling the ball outside his area.
Esteghlal travel to the UAE to face Al Ain on March 6, while Al Hilal’s Matchday Three fixture sees them hosting Qatar’s Al Rayyan.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
ِAl Ain: Al Ain and Al Rayyan split the points with a 1-1 draw at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Matchday Two of the 2018 AFC champions league.
The home side dominated the early proceedings and were first to find the target when Marcus Berg converted from the penalty spot after Caio Fernandes was fouled inside the box in the 10th minute.
Al Rayyan got back into the game in a similar fashion when Abderrazzaq Hamad-Allah was hurdled inside the six-yard-box and stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick himself to equalise for the Qatari side in the 28th minute.
Rayan Yaslam’s effort from outside the box for Al Ain was the closest either side came to adding a second after the break as the final whistle announced a second draw for the two Group D sides.
Al Ain welcome Esteghlal to the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Matchday Three while Al Rayyan travel to Riyadh to play Al Hilal next.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: The last two AFC Champions League runners-up, Al Hilal and Al Ain, started their 2018 campaign with a goalless draw in Group D on Tuesday.
Al Ain started on the front foot and had their most dangerous chance within nine minutes when Hussein El Shahat produced an intelligent pass for Marcus Berg but the Swede's shot was denied by goalkeeper Abdullah Al Muaiouf.
Seven minutes later, the hosts had their first chance through powerful shot from Yasser Al Shahrani that ended on the wrong side of the upright. New signing Ezequiel Cerutti broke free on the counter counterattack, but squandered his chance at the half-hour mark.
After a goalless first half, Al Hilal came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 79th minute when Mohammed Al Burayk rifled his free-kick but saw it ricochet off the post as the final whistle announced a goalless draw in Riyadh.
Al Hilal face Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal away on Matchday Two, while Al Ain play hosts to Qatar’s Al Rayyan.