Răzvan Lucescu, aproape de finala Ligii Campionilor Asiei. Al Sadd-Al Hilal, scor 1-4, în semifinale
Al Hilal Dominates Al Sadd in Asian Champions League Semifinal
In a thrilling encounter on Tuesday, Al Hilal, the Saudi Arabian club managed by Romanian coach Răzvan Lucescu, triumphed over Al Sadd from Qatar with a decisive score of 4-1 in the first leg of the Asian Champions League semifinals.
Match Overview
The match, held in Doha, saw Al Sadd, coached by former FC Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez, take an early lead in the 14th minute. Bafetimbi Gomis, the forward for Al Hilal, inadvertently scored an own goal while attempting to defend near the six-yard box.
However, Gomis quickly redeemed himself, equalizing in the 33rd minute. He was expertly set up by Sebastian Giovinco, a former Juventus player, who found him in a prime scoring position.
Turning Point
Just two minutes later, Al Sadd faced a setback when defender Abdelkarim Hassan was sent off. After receiving a yellow card for a foul in midfield, he was dismissed for protesting the decision.
Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, Al Hilal took the lead just before halftime. Albulayhi scored from a corner kick in the 45th minute, making it 2-1. The second half saw Al Hilal extend their lead further, with an own goal from Al Hajri in the 60th minute. The final score was capped off by Al Shalhoub, who netted the fourth goal in the 67th minute.
Looking Ahead
With a final score of 4-1, Al Hilal is now in a strong position to advance to the finals of the Asian Champions League. The return leg against Al Sadd is scheduled for October 22 at 19:15 in Riyadh.
In the other semifinal, Japanese side Urawa will face off against Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, with matches taking place on October 2 and 23.
Coach Răzvan Lucescu’s Impact
Răzvan Lucescu, who is 50 years old, joined Al Hilal this summer after parting ways with PAOK Thessaloniki, where he had a successful tenure, winning a league title and two cups.
Currently, Al Hilal is also leading the Saudi Arabian league, having accumulated 13 points from their first five matches, showcasing their strong form this season.
Source: News 24 Romania.
