Late goals give Al Hilal Champions League win over Sepahan ...

football15 February 2024 19:30| © AFP

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Players of Al Hilal © Gallo Images

Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Hilal won 3-1 away to Iran's Sepahan FC 3-1 in the AFC Champions League last 16 on Thursday, silencing the home crowd with two injury-time goals.

At a sold-out Naghsh-E-Jahan Stadium in Isfahan, the two-time champions made the most of a red card for Mohammad Daneshgar in the 76th minute, mounting attack after attack, until they finally broke through.

In the fourth minute of injury time, Aleksandar Mitrovic rose above defender Rezaeian Semeskandi to reach a Saud Abdulhamid cross and head home.

Three minutes later, Abdullah Al Hamdan latched on to a through pass from Salem Al Dawsari to hit the third goal.

Sepahan had taken the lead in the 37th minute on a counterattack when Ramin Rezaeian chested down a pass by Daneshgar and slotted the ball past the advancing Yassine Bounou.

Hilal levelled in the 57th minute when Sepahan goalkeeper Payam Niazmand parried a Mitrovic attempt into the path of Malcolm who put the ball away.

In the 82nd minute, when a brilliant cross from the left by Hilal's Mohammed Al Burayk found Sergej Milinkovic-Savic alone at the right end of the post, but his header missed narrowly.

Two-time champions, Saudi's Al Ittihad, were held to a goalless draw away to Uzbekistan's Navbahor in Namangan.

At Markaziy Stadium, Al Ittihad squandered several chances, including at least three in the first 15 minutes.

But they will have the advantage of playing at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah next Thursday in the second leg.

Currently third in the Saudi Pro League, Al Ittihad were without star striker Karim Benzema, apparently dropped by coach Marcelo Gallardo for lack of fitness.

South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai, also twice winners of the tournament, secured a comfortable 3-0 win against visiting Ventforet Kofu.

Joo Min-kyu opened the scoring for the Korean side in the 37th minute and then converted a penalty just before interval when Kim Min-woo was brought down by Kaito Kamiya.

Full-back Seol Young-woo's goal in the 61st minute confirmed the result to set up a challenging home outing in Tokyo for the Japanese side.