AFC.com
Ramon Diaz’s Al Hilal SFC made it six points from six with a comfortable 3-0 win against Al Rayyan SC in Group A of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 on Monday at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
Al Hilal started off on the front foot, with Micheal Oliveira - the man who scored the winner against Sharjah FC in the previous game - rising up highest to meet a well placed cross by Mohammad Al Burayk but his header scraped the roof of the net before going out.
Abdullah Al Hamdan, deputising for the injured Saleh Al Shehri, opened the scoring for the reigning champions after 27 minutes of play with a slithering low shot through a forest of legs in the penalty area after receiving the lively Al Burayk’s cross from the right.
Abdullah Al Hamdan, deputising for the injured Saleh Al Shehri, opened the scoring for the reigning champions after 27 minutes of play with a slithering low shot through a forest of legs in the penalty area after receiving the lively Al Burayk’s cross from the right.
Oliveira had the chance to take Diaz’s men even further ahead, when Al Faraj played Al Burayk through down the right and the latter crossed into the area from the byline, with the Brazilian meeting it with his head but Baker managed to make the save.
Despite pressure from the group hosts, Al Rayyan did have Yacine Brahimi threatening with his footwork and pinpoint passes to Yohan Boli, who had two shots saved across both periods of play. The Ivorian also missed a cross that passed in front of an empty Al Hilal goal, mistiming his movement as the ball rolled past himself and Steven Nzonzi as well.
Osamah Al Tairi missed another chance for Al Rayyan when Brahimi beat his marker before playing him through, but his shot was skied under challenge from the Al Hilal defence. A sense of urgency appeared late on characterised by long range shots, with Hashim Ali also firing wide.
Nasser Al Dawsari put the win beyond doubt with four minutes left on the clock, when youngster Abdullah Radif was found by Oliveira, in turn playing Al Dawsari in the with the midfielder dancing his way through the Al Rayyan defence before putting a tame ball past the keeper to make it 3-0.
The win sees Al Hilal leapfrog Al Rayyan to the top of the table, keeping their perfect record ahead of the repeat of the 2021 meeting between them and Istiklol FC on Friday, while the Qatar Stars League side will take on UAE Pro League side Sharjah FC.