Al Shamal players celebrate a goal against Al Hilal.
DOHA: Al Shamal produced a memorable performance to claim their first-ever AFC Champions League Elite victory, stunning Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal 3-1 at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor yesterday.
Ahead of Al Shamal’s first meeting with the Saudi giants, coach David Prats had expressed confidence in his side, and his players delivered against Simone Inzaghi’s team, who had won eight and drawn two of their previous 10 matches against Qatari clubs.
Wesley Said opened the scoring for Al Shamal in the eighth minute before Salem Al Dawsari equalised in the 32nd minute. However, goals from Baghdad Bounedjah and Mohamed Ben Romdhane early in the second half sealed a historic victory for the hosts.
Making their debut in the continent’s premier club competition, Al Shamal have emerged as Qatar’s leading side, collecting five points from three matches, including draws against Al Ittihad and Tractor FC. Al Sadd have just one point, while Al Gharafa have lost all three of their matches so far.
The victory lifted Al Shamal to sixth in the standings, one point behind Al Hilal and Iran’s Esteghlal.
New signing Riyad Mahrez was influential, providing two assists as Al Hilal found themselves on the receiving end of a rare defeat in the competition.
The hosts made a flying start, taking the lead in the eighth minute with a superb counterattack. Ben Romdhane sent a fine angled pass to Said, who finished with a diagonal shot into the bottom-left corner, beating Mohammed Al Owais.
Bounedjah fired wide, while efforts from Pablo Marí and Said were blocked as Al Shamal impressed against the Asian giants.
Al Hilal struggled to threaten in the opening stages, with Babacar Seck comfortably dealing with Theo Hernandez’s effort.
However, the visitors turned the tide after the half-hour mark, with Al Dawsari drawing them level with a superb first-time finish. Hernandez created the goal with a surging run down the left flank before setting up his captain.
The match gathered pace after the equaliser, and Al Shamal came close to regaining the lead when Bounedjah raced into the box and chipped the ball towards Mahrez. The Algerian’s header struck the post before Bounedjah was denied on the rebound by a defender.
Al Shamal were forced into a change just before half-time, with Nassim Benaissa replacing the injured Jeison Murillo in the 45th minute.
The hosts resumed the second half in the same attacking fashion and regained the lead just three minutes after the restart.
Following an attack down the right, Mahrez delivered a cross to Bounedjah, whose close-range touch was enough to beat Al Owais.
Al Shamal extended their lead to 3-1 in 54th minute when Mahrez again provided the assist, delivering a precise cross from a set-piece for Ben Romdhane to tap the ball into the top-left corner.
Kalidou Koulibaly headed wide as Al Hilal looked to fight back, while Tiago Silva also missed the target in an attempt to extend Al Shamal’s lead.
Yusuf Akcicek’s effort went straight into the hands of Seck, who enjoyed a composed night as Al Hilal struggled to find their rhythm.
The visitors’ attacks were repeatedly met by dangerous counterattacks from Al Shamal, who held on to secure a landmark victory.
Al Hilal suffered their first defeat in the AFC Champions League Elite League Stage since the competition's revamp. Al Shamal will next face Esteghlal on November 3.
