CWC finalists Al Hilal maintain momentum as they seek to retain Champions League title
February 21 - Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal took another step towards retaining their AFC Champions League title with a 3-1 win over UAE Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in Qatar in Qatar Al Janoub stadium.
In the other West Zone Round of 16, Iran's Foolad Khouzestan beat Saudi Arabia's Al Faisaly 1-0 at Al Thumama Stadium.
Al Hilal (pictured), after appearing in the Club World Cup final against Real Madrid earlier this year, is looking to win the AFC Champions League title for the third time in four years. The next match will be their fourth quarter-final in six years.
However, the 3-1 scoreline wasn't as straightforward as he suggests. Al Hilal's first goal came in the 17th minute when Moussa Marega fed Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo who hammered the ball into the bottom corner.
There followed a long stretch of play where both teams could have scored and Shabab Al Ahli could easily have entered the half-time break level.
It wasn't until the 72nd minute that Al Hilal scored their second goal when Korea Republic defender Jang Hyun-soo headed his own rebound off the crossbar. Luciano Vietto made it 3-0 with a throw-in six minutes later.
Omar Khribin pulled one back for Shabab Al Ahli and hit the woodwork later in injury time, but it wasn't enough.
Al Hilal head coach Ramon Diaz was not entirely happy with their performance, saying lapses in concentration gave UAE Al Shabab opportunities. The Argentine said it would be worked out before Thursday's quarter-finals.
Captain Sasan Ansari's second-half goal was the difference as Foolad Khouzestan beat Al Faisaly 1-0 in the next round.
Al Faisaly stood out as the only second division club to progress this far, they were also the only remaining debutants in the competition.
Fooled Khouzestan will face Al Hilal and Al Duhail SC of Qatar will face Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals to be played on February 23. The semi-final (the western regional final) will be played on February 26.< /p>
Waiting for the winner of this match, Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds beat Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on penalties in the East Zone semi-final last August.
The final will be played over two legs. The first will be in the West Zone on April 26, and the second will be in Saitama, Japan on May 6.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1677013986labto1677013986ofdlr1677013986owedi1677013986sni@n1677013986osloh1677013986cin.l1677013986uap1677013986
February 21 - Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal took another step towards retaining their AFC Champions League title with a 3-1 win over UAE Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in Qatar in Qatar Al Janoub stadium.
In the other West Zone Round of 16, Iran's Foolad Khouzestan beat Saudi Arabia's Al Faisaly 1-0 at Al Thumama Stadium.
Al Hilal (pictured), after appearing in the Club World Cup final against Real Madrid earlier this year, is looking to win the AFC Champions League title for the third time in four years. The next match will be their fourth quarter-final in six years.
However, the 3-1 scoreline wasn't as straightforward as he suggests. Al Hilal's first goal came in the 17th minute when Moussa Marega fed Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo who hammered the ball into the bottom corner.
There followed a long stretch of play where both teams could have scored and Shabab Al Ahli could easily have entered the half-time break level.
It wasn't until the 72nd minute that Al Hilal scored their second goal when Korea Republic defender Jang Hyun-soo headed his own rebound off the crossbar. Luciano Vietto made it 3-0 with a throw-in six minutes later.
Omar Khribin pulled one back for Shabab Al Ahli and hit the woodwork later in injury time, but it wasn't enough.
Al Hilal head coach Ramon Diaz was not entirely happy with their performance, saying lapses in concentration gave UAE Al Shabab opportunities. The Argentine said it would be worked out before Thursday's quarter-finals.
Captain Sasan Ansari's second-half goal was the difference as Foolad Khouzestan beat Al Faisaly 1-0 in the next round.
Al Faisaly stood out as the only second division club to progress this far, they were also the only remaining debutants in the competition.
Fooled Khouzestan will face Al Hilal and Al Duhail SC of Qatar will face Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals to be played on February 23. The semi-final (the western regional final) will be played on February 26.< /p>
Waiting for the winner of this match, Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds beat Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on penalties in the East Zone semi-final last August.
The final will be played over two legs. The first will be in the West Zone on April 26, and the second will be in Saitama, Japan on May 6.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1677013986labto1677013986ofdlr1677013986owedi1677013986sni@n1677013986osloh1677013986cin.l1677013986uap1677013986
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