In a breathtaking AFC Champions League clash, Al Ain and Al Hilal delivered a spectacle of goals and drama, but despite a stunning hat-trick from Soufiane Rahimi, Al Ain fell short as 10-man Al Hilal held on for a thrilling 5-4 victory.
The game started at a blistering pace, with Al Hilal quickly asserting their dominance. They struck early, taking a 1-0 lead, but Al Ain’s Moroccan forward, Rahimi, was in no mood to let his side go down without a fight. In the 39th minute, Rahimi capitalized on a defensive error, calmly slotting home to level the score at 1-1.
However, before the first half could end, Al Hilal struck twice more in quick succession, pushing their lead to 3-1, leaving Al Ain with a mountain to climb. Despite the setback, Al Ain refused to give in.
The second half began with renewed intensity. In the 63rd minute, Al Ain’s Sanabria reignited hope, reducing the deficit to 3-2 with a well-placed finish. But Al Hilal responded almost immediately, restoring their two-goal cushion just two minutes later to make it 4-2.
Rahimi, though, was far from done. In the 67th minute, he added his second of the night, bringing Al Ain back into the contest at 4-3.
In the 75th minute, Al Hilal struck yet again, pushing the score to 5-3 and seemingly putting the game out of reach. But Rahimi, on a night where he could do no wrong, responded with a late flurry. Al Hilal, sensing the pressure, introduced Neymar in the 71st minute, hoping to regain control.
In the dying moments of added time, deep into the 96th minute, Rahimi completed his hat-trick with a brilliant individual effort, making it 5-4.
Despite his heroics, Rahimi’s efforts were not enough to salvage a result for Al Ain, as Al Hilal, even down to 10 men, managed to hold on for the win. Rahimi’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, but it was Al Hilal who walked away with the victory in this unforgettable encounter.
