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DOHA — Al-Hilal secured a 2-0 win over Qatar’s Al-Sadd in Doha on Tuesday, with Ollie Watkins’ improvised finish setting the Saudi Pro League outfit on their way to a second successive Asian Champions League Elite victory.
The former Aston Villa striker found the net in the 40th minute to give Al-Hilal the lead, calmly steering the ball home whilst lying on the turf after being upended in the penalty area by Agustín Soria.
“I felt like I worked hard for the team, I got my goal and that’s what I’m here to do, get goals for the team and ultimately work hard and put everything into the game,” Watkins said.
The victory followed Al-Hilal’s opening win over Al-Gharafa in the western league phase of the competition last month and was sealed when Rúben Neves converted from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.
Al-Hilal were joined on six points by Shabab Al-Ahli after the side from the United Arab Emirates defeated former champions Al-Ittihad 2-1 in Jeddah.
Sardar Azmoun struck twice in the opening 16 minutes, finishing from close range in the seventh minute before the Iran international surged from just inside the Al-Ittihad half to double the advantage.
Richard Ríos pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 66th minute, but Shabab Al-Ahli held firm to take all three points.
“We were very focused and we believed we could win this game,” said Azmoun. “We analysed them well and we worked very hard on the pitch, and that’s why we won the game.”
The UAE’s Al-Ain and Iran’s Esteghlal also maintain perfect records after two rounds of the eight-match league phase. The top eight finishers in both the western and eastern zones advance to the round of 16.
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