Al-Hilal Maintain Perfect AFC Champions League Record with 2-1 Away Victory Over Al-Gharafa

Saudi powerhouses Al-Hilal continued their flawless start to the AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a commanding 2-1 away victory over Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Monday.

Simone Inzaghi’s side now boast four wins out of four at the halfway stage of the league format, sitting two points clear at the top of the West Region table on 12 points, as they pursue a record-extending fifth Asian title.

Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring for the visitors in the ninth minute, heading in a pinpoint cross from Joao Cancelo, who had intercepted possession cleverly on the right flank.

Al-Hilal maintained their dominance for much of the first half, with Theo Hernandez and Cancelo both testing goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar, whose impressive stops helped keep Al-Gharafa in the game.

That pressure eventually paid off midway through the second half. A powerful surging run from Theo Hernandez broke Al-Gharafa’s defensive lines before the ball found Kaio Cesar, who fired home emphatically from the edge of the area to double the Saudi club’s lead.

The Qatari side managed a consolation goal deep into stoppage time, with Ayoub Aloui converting from close range, but the outcome was already beyond reach.

Next in the competition, Al-Hilal are set to host Al-Shorta of Iraq on November 25, as they look to keep momentum in their championship quest. Al-Gharafa, ninth in the standings with just three points, will attempt to recover some form when they face Shabab Al-Ahli of the UAE on November 24.

— Team V.DIR-EM-UAE