Al Hilal down Al-Shorta as Al-Ain lose in Asian Champions League

Al Hilal delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over Iraq's Al Shorta in Riyadh on Tuesday, thereby joining fellow Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli at the top of the standings with maximum points after two matches in the Asian Champions League Elite.

This outcome followed the defeat of the reigning champions, Al Ain, who succumbed to a 4-2 loss against Al-Gharafa.

Late goals from Seydou Sano and Yacine Brahimi sealed the champions' fate in Doha, despite Kaku Romero and Sofiane Rahimi temporarily equalizing after Joselu, a former Real Madrid striker, had opened the scoring with a brace.

"We needed this win," remarked Joselu. "While I am pleased to have scored, the team's success is what truly matters. After our recent league loss, it was essential to demonstrate our unity and capability as a team, and we performed well, scoring four goals."

Joselu initially put Al-Gharafa in front by redirecting Sano's shot past Khalid Eisa during first-half injury time, and he extended the lead with a close-range header shortly after the second half commenced.

Kaku reduced the deficit with a penalty in the 56th minute, and Rahimi equalized ten minutes later with a well-placed strike beyond Sergio Rico. However, Al-Gharafa responded strongly in the latter stages of the match.

Sano regained the lead for the hosts in the 72nd minute, and Brahimi confirmed the victory just four minutes later, marking Al-Gharafa's first win while leaving Al Ain with only one point from two matches.

Al-Hilal faced little resistance at home against Al Shorta, as Jorge Jesus' squad secured their second victory, joining Al-Ahli, who triumphed over Al-Wasl on Monday, at the summit of the West Asian standings after two rounds of the league phase.

Two goals within a span of four minutes in the first half established Al Hilal's dominance, with Michael Leonardo scoring in the 11th minute after capitalizing on a save by Ahmed Basil from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's attempt.

Aleksandar Mitrovic added a second with a header from six yards out, following a quickly taken corner delivered by Renan Lodi into the penalty area.

Salem Al-Dawsari netted the third goal just two minutes into the second half, and further goals from Nasser Al-Dawsari and Mohammed Kanno ensured a decisive outcome.

The leading eight teams from both the 12-team western and eastern divisions of the league stage will advance to the round of 16, scheduled to take place in March on a home-and-away format.

Those teams that move on to the quarter-finals will compete in a centralized tournament held in Saudi Arabia to crown the champions, with the final match set for May 4th.