Riyadh: Lekhwiya grabbed the initiative in their AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash with Saudi giants Al Hilal as a late deflected goal by Youssef Al Msakni gave them a 1-0 away win in the first leg yesterday.
The match at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium looked to be headed for a goalless draw until the Tunisian’s effort from the edge of the box in the 81st minute nicked off Ozéia de Paula Maciel and rolled past a wrong-footed Abdullah Mohammed into the bottom right corner of the net.
It meant a happy return to Riyadh for Lekhwiya coach Eric Gerets, who was in charge of Al Hilal when they reached the AFC Champions League semi-finals in 2010.
Al Hilal had the better of the chances in the first half.
Agencies
