Al Ain And Al Hilal 34-Match Winning Streak with Stunning Victory

Photo : X/@alainfcae_en

Al Ain, the team that triumphed over Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr in the quarterfinals, dealt a significant blow to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal by ending their remarkable streak of 34 consecutive victories in the Asian Champions League. The thrilling showdown unfolded on Wednesday, with Morocco striker Soufiane Rahimi emerging as the hero, securing a memorable first-leg win for Al Ain with a spectacular hat trick, resulting in a final score of 4-2.

Al Hilal, boasting four-time Asian championship titles, had not tasted defeat since September of the previous year, marking this loss as a significant upset for the formidable side. The match had initially been postponed by 24 hours due to heavy rainfall in the UAE, but once underway, Rahimi wasted no time in making his mark. He opened the scoring within the first six minutes, capitalizing on a pass from Yahia Nader. Rahimi then doubled his tally with a penalty conversion, drawing a foul from goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais in the process.

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The Moroccan striker completed his hat trick just before halftime, again from the penalty spot, after a foul by Ali Al Bulayhi. Despite Al Hilal's efforts to mount a comeback, the gap widened as Alejandro Romero successfully converted another penalty for Al Ain. However, Al Hilal managed to salvage some hope with a goal from Salem Al Dawsari in the 78th minute.

The victory not only halted Al Hilal's extraordinary winning streak but also positioned Al Ain favorably for the return leg, scheduled for the following Tuesday. Meanwhile, in another semifinal clash, South Korea's Ulsan secured a narrow advantage with a 1-0 victory over Japan's Yokohama F-Marinos earlier on the same Wednesday.

The thrilling encounter between Al Ain and Al Hilal showcased the unpredictable nature of football and set the stage for an enthralling second leg as both teams vie for a spot in the Asian Champions League final.

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