AFC Champions League: Neymar Faces Scare After Al-Hilal Held to a 1-1 Draw Against Navbahor
The star-studded lineup were held to a 1-1 draw by the the side from Uzbekistan, Navbahor. Al-Hilal were forced to go to injury time where Ali Albulayhi managed to score the equaliser.
Brazillian star, Neymar Jr was not able to make the most desirable start to the Asian Champions League as the side, Al-Hilal were forced to go into injury time so that they could salvage a 1-1 draw against the side from Uzbekistan, Navbahor, in Riyadh on Monday.
Neymar Jr. recently signed for Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain for a whopping 90 million Euros and made his first start for the club on Friday as a substitute in the victory over Al Riyadh at home.
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Runners-up in last year’s Champions League, Hilal were fortunate not to lose their Group B opener having gone behind on 52 minutes at King Fahd International Stadium to Toma Tabatadze’s expert finish. Navbahor, the 2022 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up, were competing in the Champions League for the first time.
READ MORE: Neymar Set to Play in India as Mumbai City FC Drawn With Al Hilal for AFC Champions League – News18
However, Hilal defender Ali Al Bulaihi rescued a point for the four-time champions in the 100th minute, rising unmarked in the Navbahor area to head home Michael’s corner.
Neymar, who earlier this month became Brazil’s all-time lead goalscorer, had largely a night to forget. The forward was subjected to some particularly robust treatment from Navbahor and was incensed just before the hour when he was trod on after being dragged to the ground.
Moments later, Neymar was booked for pushing over an opponent and then angrily kicking the ball at the player as he lay on the pitch.
Neymar did have a chance to get Hilal back into the game three minutes from time, but his close-range header was straight at Navbahor goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov. Yusupov then made a spectacular save in injury time to deny Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, although he could do nothing to prevent Al Bulaihi’s leveller.
Also in Group D, Iranian debutants Nassaji Mazandaran won 2-0 away to India’s Mumbai City.
Meanwhile, Saudi champions Al Ittihad began their quest for a third Champions League title with a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Uzbekistan’s AGMK in Jeddah.
Ittihad, back-to-back winners in 2004 and 2005, went into the Group C opener without Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema, who was injured, but struck twice in six minutes early in the first half.
Haroune Camara, starting in Benzema’s absence, opened the scoring at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on 10 minutes before Romarinho soon doubled the hosts’ advantage.
The Brazilian got his second of the night four minutes before half-time, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side eased to the three points.
READ MORE: Ronaldo, Neymar and Benzema Eyeing Asian Champions League Title – News18
In the group’s other fixture, Iraq’s Air Force Club held 2007 runners-up Sepahan, of Iran, to a 2-2 draw in Erbil.
In Group B, two-time Asian champions Al Sadd drew 0-0 at home with UAE side Sharjah – Algeria’s Baghdad Bounedjah missed a second-half penalty for the hosts – while Jordan’s Al Faisaly sunk to a 1-0 defeat in injury-time to Uzbekistan’s Nasaf in Amman.
The group stage, which this year returned to a home-and-away format for the first time since early 2020, runs until mid-December, with the 10 pool winners and the six best second-placed teams advancing to the knockout rounds. That begins in February. The final takes place, across two legs, in May.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP)- Location :
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