KSAsportz report
RIYADH — In a thrilling start to the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26, Al Hilal secured a vital 2-1 comeback victory over Al Duhail at Kingdom Arena on Tuesday night. The Saudi champions showcased their tenacity, with second-half goals from Darwin Nunez and Theo Hernandez sealing the win.
Al Hilal found themselves behind the eight ball in the 36th minute when Youssouf Sabaly connected with Adil Boulbina, who skillfully rounded goalkeeper Yassine Bounou before slotting the ball into the net, leaving the home crowd stunned.
In a dramatic first half, Al Hilal appeared to have equalized just before halftime; however, their joy was short-lived as VAR ruled Yusuf Akcicek’s long-range strike offside.
After regrouping during the break, Simone Inzaghi’s squad came out with renewed vigor. Nunez, who entered the match as a substitute, made his presence felt immediately by tying the game in the 57th minute. He connected with Hamad Al Yami’s cutback, placing his shot flawlessly into the net.
With momentum on their side, Al Hilal pressed for a winning goal. In the 67th minute, they capitalized on a defensive miscue; Ibrahima Bamba’s mishandled clearance fell to Hernandez, who struck a volley that deflected off Bamba, leaving goalkeeper Salah Zakaria unable to respond.
The relentless attacking efforts by Al Hilal, which included attempts from Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, Nasser Al Dawsari, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, were continually thwarted by Zakaria, who tallied six saves during the match. Ultimately, however, Al Hilal’s persistence paid off as they earned three critical points in their Group Stage opener. Statistics show that Al Hilal registered 15 shots, with seven finding the target, while Al Duhail managed only five shots, of which three were on target, highlighting the Saudi side’s dominance in the encounter.