Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia returned with a valuable victory from “Ahmed Bin Ali” Stadium, 3-1, over its host Al-Rayyan of Qatar, this evening, Tuesday, in the first round of the first round of the Asian Elite League.

Al Hilal's goals were scored by Sergei Savic, Joao Cancelo, and Marcos Leonardo in the 15th, 42nd, and 44th minutes, respectively, noting that the Portuguese and the Brazilian each made their first mark with the team.

Alexander Mitrovic wasted the opportunity to add a fourth goal after missing a penalty kick in the 71st minute.

While Roger Guedes reduced the difference for Al Rayyan in the 47th minute.

Al-Zaeem got the first 3 points at the start of his career in the first edition of the tournament in its new format, while Al-Rayyan remained without points.

Al-Hilal will host its Iraqi brother Al-Shorta in the second round on October 1, while Al-Rayyan will face Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia in the same round on Monday, September 30.

Early settlement

The home team started the match with clear offensive pressure, as the first threat came a few seconds after the starting whistle with a powerful shot by Guedes, while Mahmoud Trezeguet fired a low shot 3 minutes later, and every time goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was on time.

However, the first goals of the match came in the colors of the visitors after a quarter of an hour, as Savic rose higher than everyone, converting a cross from Malcom into the net.

Bono continued his brilliance and saved Al Rayyan's equalizer a few minutes later, after a powerful header from David Garcia.

Al Hilal gained confidence after Savic's goal, and crawled into the front third in search of reinforcement, and had what it wanted minutes before the end of the first half.

Malcolm played a wonderful through pass, and Cancelo sent it into the tight corner of the net with a missile shot.

Before Al Rayyan could recover from the shock of the second goal, Leonardo added a third goal, taking advantage of a ground cross played by Cancelo from the right side, bringing his team closer to the match points.

The Crescent is restless

Al Rayyan returned to the atmosphere of the match with an early goal just two minutes after the start of the second half through Guedes, after a perfect cross from Moroccan Achraf Bencharki.

The blue team launched its attack again, and Leonardo wasted two consecutive chances from the right front, and each time goalkeeper Paulo Victor came out of his goal to save the situation.

Abdulaziz Hatem, captain of Al Rayyan, fired a missile from close range, and Bono managed to block it, preserving his team’s two-goal lead.

Al-Hilal won a penalty kick after a handball from Julen de Sart following a header by Mitrovic, but the Serbian striker himself missed the kick, as Victor excelled in blocking it.

The leader did not calm down, as he continued to threaten the Qatari goal, and a ball was prepared for Malcolm inside the penalty area. He shot it powerfully, but it hit the right post, and Salem Al-Dosari followed it up with another shot, which the goalkeeper responded brilliantly