Ali Al-Bulaihi’s heroics in the dying moments of the game salvaged a 1-1 draw for Al Hilal against Navbahor in the Asian Champions League. The match, held in Riyadh, saw Neymar make his first start for the Saudi Pro League side. However, it was Al-Bulaihi’s header during more than 14 minutes of injury time that secured a crucial point for his team.
Neymar’s arrival in Saudi Arabia created a lot of buzz during the summer transfer window. Making his first start for Al Hilal since his €90 million move from Paris Saint-Germain, the Brazilian forward struggled to make an impact throughout the match. Despite his best efforts, it seemed like he would end up on the losing side until Al-Bulaihi’s equalizer.
Navbahor, the Uzbekistan team, put up a determined fight against their more illustrious opponents. Toma Tabatadze gave them the lead in the 52nd minute, and for most of the game, it appeared as though they would secure an unlikely win. Samvel Babayan’s side defended tenaciously and frustrated Al Hilal’s attacking efforts. However, they were unable to hold on until the final whistle, conceding the equalizer deep into stoppage time.
In the Asian Champions League, only the winners of the ten groups in the 40-team competition are guaranteed to advance to the last 16. After this draw, Al Hilal currently sits behind debutants Nassaji Mazandaran in Group D. The Iranian team leads the group after a 2-0 victory over Mumbai City from India.
Al Ittihad, the Saudi Pro League champions, had no troubles in their Group C match against AGMK from Uzbekistan. Despite coach Nuno Espirito Santo not including ex-Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema in the squad, Al Ittihad registered a comfortable 3-0 win. Haroune Camara and Romarinho both found the back of the net, and a penalty from Romarinho extended their lead before halftime.
In Group A, Air Force Club and Sepahan from Iran shared the spoils with a 2-2 draw, thanks to 19-year-old Ali Jassim’s double for the Iraqi side. In Group B, Nasaf Quarshi from Uzbekistan secured a late 1-0 victory over Jordan’s Al-Faisaly to take the top spot. Qatar’s Al Sadd and Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates settled for a goalless draw.
Ali Al-Bulaihi’s late equalizer rescued a point for Al Hilal in a thrilling encounter against Navbahor. Neymar’s first start failed to produce the desired outcome, but Al-Bulaihi’s heroics ensured that the Saudi Pro League side avoided defeat. With the competition heating up in the various groups, every point matters as teams fight to advance in the Asian Champions League.
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