Al-Hilal will have a two-goal lead in the second leg of their Asian Champions League quarter-final against fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad next week after two goals in two minutes in the first half allowed the Riyadh-based club to take a considerable advantage on Tuesday.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s 40th-minute penalty put Jorge Jesus’ side ahead at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Salem Al Dawsari doubled the lead two minutes later, the Al-Hilal winger completing a devastating collective action. Al-Ittihad finished at 10 men after N’golo Kante was sent off for a dangerous tackle on his former Chelsea teammate Kalidou Koulibaly 25 minutes from time, with referee Shuan Evans sending the Frenchman off after a video review.
The two teams will meet next Tuesday in Jeddah, with the winner facing Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) or Al-Nassr (Cristiano Ronaldo) in the semi-final next month.
Al-Ain hold a 1-0 advantage after beating the Saudi Pro League side in the first leg on Monday. Mitrovic scored his 30th goal from the penalty spot in 31 matches in all competitions since joining Al-Hilal from Fulham, after being tackled to the ground by Madallah Al Olayan. Al Dawsari then added his side’s second goal when Malcom was released on the right by an incisive through ball from Ruben Neves and the Brazilian crossed for the current Asian Player of the Year to pounce.