Al Hilal defeated Al Ittihad 2-0 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Tuesday, giving them a decisive lead going into the second leg of the Asian Champions League quarterfinals next week.
The all-Saudi Arabian contest in the capital was easily won by the record four-time continental champions, who finished second the previous year. Late in the first half, a comfortable first-leg victory was sealed by goals from former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and current Asian Player of the Year Salem Al Dawsari, all within two minutes of each other.
N'Golo Kante, the winner of the World Cup, was sent off for Ittihad halfway through the second half and will be unavailable for the rematch on Tuesday in Jeddah.
For the first leg of the match, Ittihad, the reigning Saudi champion and two-time Champions League winners, was already without captain Karim Benzema. Due to injuries, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner—who joined from Real Madrid last summer—was not present.
Five minutes before halftime, Hilal, who leads the 2023–24 Saudi Pro League by nine points, started the score. The referee determined that the Ittihad defender had tackled his Serbian opponent after Madallah Al Olayan engaged Mitrovic in a scuffle and Captain Salman Al Faraj curled in a cross from the right. Mitrovic scored from the penalty spot to bring his total for Hilal to 30 goals in 31 games since leaving the Premier League in the summer.
Five minutes before halftime, Hilal, who leads the 2023–24 Saudi Pro League by nine points, started the score. The referee determined that the Ittihad defender had tackled his Serbian opponent after Madallah Al Olayan engaged Mitrovic in a scuffle and Captain Salman Al Faraj curled in a cross from the right. Mitrovic scored from the penalty spot to bring his total for Hilal to 30 goals in 31 games since leaving the Premier League in the summer.
Hilal doubled their lead after two minutes. After a wonderful ball from Ruben Neves sent Malcom down the right, the Brazilian squared to Al Dawsari. The Saudi winger blasted past Abdullah Al Mayouf, the goalie for Ittihad, to score.
Just after the hour, Kante received a straight red card for a late challenge on former Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly, capping off Ittihad's awful night. Kante had been initially booked, but after a VAR review, the referee reversed the decision.
Just after the hour, Kante received a straight red card for a late challenge on former Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly, capping off Ittihad's awful night. Kante had been initially booked, but after a VAR review, the referee reversed the decision.
The victor of the tie will play Al Nassr, a Saudi team, or Al Ain, a UAE team, in the semi-final. In their first leg at home, Al Ain, the 2003 Asian champions, upset Cristiano Ronaldo's Nassr team 1-0 on Monday.
Ulsan departs late.
In the first leg of their last-eight match earlier on Tuesday, Ulsan rallied in the second half to draw 1-1 with South Korean rival Jeonbuk Motors.
At the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Song Min-kyu gave Jeonbuk the lead in the fourth minute. Brazilian Tiago Orobo missed a penalty kick that would have doubled their lead, hitting the crossbar.
In the first leg of their last-eight match earlier on Tuesday, Ulsan rallied in the second half to draw 1-1 with South Korean rival Jeonbuk Motors.
At the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Song Min-kyu gave Jeonbuk the lead in the fourth minute. Brazilian Tiago Orobo missed a penalty kick that would have doubled their lead, hitting the crossbar.
The previous two seasons' domestic K-League champions, Ulsan, appeared to be lacking inspiration in the first half, but they rallied strongly in the second half, with Lee Myung-jae scoring an equalizer in the 77th minute.
The two teams will play one other again in the second leg of the competition next week. The victor advances to the semi-finals to play either Japan's Yokohama F-Marinos or China's Shandong Taishan.
The last seven K-League titles have been split between Ulsan and Jeonbuk, but Jeonbuk dominated the first half.
The two teams will play one other again in the second leg of the competition next week. The victor advances to the semi-finals to play either Japan's Yokohama F-Marinos or China's Shandong Taishan.
The last seven K-League titles have been split between Ulsan and Jeonbuk, but Jeonbuk dominated the first half.
After only a few minutes of play, Dan Petrescu's team opened the score by taking advantage of some careless defending.
After sprinting down the wing, Lee Dong-jun delivered a cross that Song easily headed home, posing no threat to the Ulsan defense.
Midway through the first half, Lee Myung-jae took down Lee Dong-jun as he was sprinting into the box, allowing Jeonbuk to add a second.
After sprinting down the wing, Lee Dong-jun delivered a cross that Song easily headed home, posing no threat to the Ulsan defense.
Midway through the first half, Lee Myung-jae took down Lee Dong-jun as he was sprinting into the box, allowing Jeonbuk to add a second.
However, Orobo beat South Korean international goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo by smashing his kick against the crossbar.
Just before halftime, Um Won-sang gave Ulsan a rare first-half chance that he hammered into the side-netting.
After that, five minutes into the second half, Hwang Seok-ho came dangerously near with a header from a corner as Ulsan started to settle into a rhythm.
When Lee scored in his own penalty area, Jeong Tae-wook of Jeonbuk gave the ball away, allowing Hong Myung-bo's team to equalize.
Just before halftime, Um Won-sang gave Ulsan a rare first-half chance that he hammered into the side-netting.
After that, five minutes into the second half, Hwang Seok-ho came dangerously near with a header from a corner as Ulsan started to settle into a rhythm.
When Lee scored in his own penalty area, Jeong Tae-wook of Jeonbuk gave the ball away, allowing Hong Myung-bo's team to equalize.
Lee slid past Kim Tae-hwan with composure and put it into the net.
On Wednesday, Shandong will host Yokohama in the first leg of their quarterfinal match in China.
On Wednesday, Shandong will host Yokohama in the first leg of their quarterfinal match in China.