Date: Tuesday 19
Neymar’s Debut Dilemma: Al-Hilal Salvages Late Draw in AFC Champions League Clash with Navbahor
In a surprising turn of events, Al-Hilal, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring Neymar Jr, Aleksandr Mitrovic, Malcom, and others, found themselves locked in a 1-1 draw against the Uzbekistani side, Navbahor. The dramatic match extended into injury time, where Ali Albulayhi’s crucial goal saved Al-Hilal from a potential loss.
Brazilian sensation Neymar Jr. didn’t have the dream start he anticipated in the Asian Champions League. Al-Hilal, who recently acquired Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain for a staggering 90 million Euros, fielded him in his first start for the club. However, Neymar’s journey with Al-Hilal has been far from smooth.
Hilal, the runners-up in last year’s Champions League, faced a challenging Group B opener against Navbahor, who were competing in the Champions League for the first time. The game took an unexpected turn when Toma Tabatadze expertly found the net in the 52nd minute, putting Navbahor in the lead.
Al Hilal’s fortunes were hanging by a thread until defender Ali Al Bulaihi came to the rescue in the 100th minute. He rose unmarked in the Navbahor area to head home a corner delivered by Michael, securing a crucial point for the four-time champions.
Neymar’s night was marred by robust challenges from Navbahor players, and frustration got the better of him. In one instance, he was trod on after being brought down, leading to his incensed reaction. Shortly after, Neymar received a yellow card for pushing an opponent and angrily kicking the ball at him while he lay on the pitch.
Despite his struggles, Neymar had a chance to turn the tide three minutes from time with a close-range header, but Navbahor’s goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov denied him. Yusupov then made a spectacular save in injury time to block a shot from Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. However, he couldn’t prevent Al Bulaihi’s equalizer.
In another Group D match, Iranian debutants Nassaji Mazandaran secured a 2-0 victory against India’s Mumbai City.
On a different front, Saudi champions Al Ittihad commenced their quest for a third Champions League title with a comfortable 3-0 win against Uzbekistan’s AGMK. Despite missing Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema due to injury, Haroune Camara and Romarinho ensured a smooth victory.
Elsewhere in the group, Iraq’s Air Force Club played to a 2-2 draw against Iran’s Sepahan.
In Group B, two-time Asian champions Al Sadd settled for a 0-0 draw against UAE side Sharjah, with Algeria’s Baghdad Bounedjah missing a second-half penalty. Jordan’s Al Faisaly, on the other hand, faced a last-minute 1-0 defeat against Uzbekistan’s Nasaf in Amman.
The group stage, featuring a home-and-away format this year, will run until mid-December. The top pool winners and the six best second-placed teams will advance to the knockout rounds, beginning in February. The final, contested across two legs, is set for May https://www.sportiwe.com/
