AFC Champions League Elite: Al Shamal SC Beat Al Hilal SFC 3-1 to Claim First Win

Al Shamal SC recorded their first win in the AFC Champions League Elite, defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC 3-1 in their match today at Al Bayt Stadium in Matchday Three of the League Stage in the West Region.

Wesley Saïd, Baghdad Bounedjah and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane scored Al Shamal SC’s three goals in the eighth, 49th and 54th minutes, while Salem Al-Dawsari scored for Al Hilal SFC in the 32nd minute.

Al Shamal SC claimed their first victory in the competition following two draws, taking their tally to five points and moving into sixth place. Al Hilal SFC suffered their first defeat and remained on six points in fifth place.

Al Shamal SC made an ideal start to the match, applying pressure to their opponents and taking an early lead through France’s Wesley Saïd. He received a pass inside the penalty area from Tunisia’s Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane before finding the net with a low shot in the eighth minute.

Al Shamal SC continued searching for a second goal and nearly found the net when a cross from Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez passed in front of his compatriot Baghdad Bounedjah, who could not connect with the ball properly in the 16th minute. Wesley Saïd then directed a cross towards goal, but the goalkeeper saved it in the 18th minute.

Al Hilal SFC tried to seize the initiative and move out of their own area in search of an equaliser. They achieved their aim through Salem Al-Dawsari, who turned a cross from France’s Theo Hernández into the net in the 32nd minute.

Al Shamal SC responded with a quick attack as Baghdad Bounedjah delivered a well-placed cross that Riyad Mahrez headed against the post. The ball returned to Bounedjah, whose follow-up shot was diverted behind for a corner by the Al Hilal SFC defence in the 35th minute, and the first half ended level at 1-1.

Al Shamal SC committed their attacking resources at the start of the second half as they sought to regain the lead. Bounedjah scored the second goal after converting Mahrez’s cross into the net in the 49th minute.

Al Shamal SC remained in control and won a free kick that Mahrez delivered into the penalty area. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane met it with a shot to the right of Al Hilal SFC goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, scoring the third goal in the 54th minute.

Al Shamal SC’s coach sought to establish balance by reinforcing the defence and attacking on the counter. One such move nearly produced a fourth goal when Wesley Saïd advanced into the penalty area before sending a shot narrowly past the post in the 81st minute, while Bounedjah missed a valuable one-on-one opportunity after delaying his shot, allowing the Al Hilal SFC defence to clear the ball in the 78th minute.

The remaining minutes brought no change to the score, with Al Shamal SC protecting their lead to secure a convincing victory and gain a major boost in their continental campaign this season.

Source: QNA

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