DOHA (Qatar): Al Hilal qualified into the 2019 AFC Champions League final with a 6-5 aggregate win over Qatar’s Al Sadd, despite losing the second leg 4-2 on Tuesday.
With the advantage of a three-goal lead from the first leg and a huge crowd behind them, Hilal took the game to their opponents from the start.
They produced the opening goal in the 12th minute.
Sadd fight back
Yasser Al Shahrani dribbled down the left and crossed low towards the far post. The ball was cleared by Sadd defence, but Salem Al Dawsari controlled and fired home to make it 5-1 on aggregate.
Three minutes later, Sadd were given a lifeline after Akram Afif was brought down inside the box. Afif stepped up to take the resulting penalty himself and drilled it into the bottom right corner despite Abdullah Al Mayouf’s best efforts to save.
There were more goals to come soon after.
Al Faraj was dispossessed near the halfway line and Nam Tae-Hee advanced into the penalty box, supplied it wide for Afif who crossed back into the box for Al Haydos.
Sadd’s number 10 set up Nam with a cute flick and the Korean midfielder controlled and finished with his left past a helpless Al Mayouf.
