Riyadh: Al Gharafa were beaten 3-0 by Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the sixth round of 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite (West Zone) at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The defeat ensured that The Cheetahs, who have maintained a good record in the domestic league but failed to replicate the magic in the Champions League, continue their search for their second win in the continental tournament after losing four games and drawing one this season, including a defeat to Al Nassr in their last outing.
Al Hilal, the four-time Asian champions, goals were scored by Marcos Leonardo (18th minute), Aleksandar Mitrović (82nd minute), and Sergej Milinković-Savić (85th minute) respectively.
With the result, the Saudi club moved level on 16 points with compatriots Al Ahli Saudi FC but with a better goal difference while Al Gharafa retained a slim chance of progression as they stayed on four points and in the tenth position behind Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor who are leveled on points with the Qatari side but with a better goal difference.
Al Hilal took the lead in the 18th minute when Yasser Al Shahrani reached the byline on the right side, delivering a cutback that Leonardo converted for his third goal of the season.
In his first start of the tournament, Al Shahrani then attempted a long-range shot that Rico had to save on his second attempt to avert the threat.
Rico proved to be a formidable obstacle for Al Hilal, successfully engaging in one-on-one confrontations with both Malcom and Abdullah Al Hamddan, and later, he was rescued by the crossbar after Malcom nearly scored, allowing Al Gharafa to head into halftime trailing by just one goal.
The halftime break did not alter the flow of the match, as Al Hilal continued to assert their control in the second half. In the 51st minute, Malcom came close to scoring, skillfully maneuvering past Abdallah Sirelkhatim before forcing Rico into a commendable save at his near post.
In the 70th minute, Al Dawsari was also thwarted by Rico; after receiving a pass from Malcom, the Al Hilal captain took aim from the center of the box, only to have his powerful shot deflected away by the goalkeeper.
Nevertheless, Rico was unable to stop a fierce low shot from substitute Mitrovic at the edge of the box in the 82nd minute, which took a slight deflection before finding the back of the net. Just three minutes later, Milinkovic-Savic added a third goal with a header, effectively sealing the victory for Al Hilal.
