Al-Hilal’s commanding victory against Al-Shorta rounds off a flawless performance for Saudi clubs in Asia’s top competition, signalling a formidable challenge for their rivals

Al-Hilal delivered a stunning performance on Tuesday night, thrashing Iraq’s Al-Shorta 5-0 to secure their second consecutive victory in the AFC Champions League Elite. The Riyadh-based club’s clinical display marked the third win for Saudi teams on matchday 2 of the competition, following earlier victories by Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli.

In front of a packed home crowd, Al-Hilal never looked troubled as they dismantled their Iraqi opponents with each of the five goals coming from a different player. The victory not only cements their place at the top of their group but also extends their winning streak to nine matches across all competitions, highlighting their dominance both domestically and in Asia.

The match kicked off with high expectations, and Al-Hilal wasted no time in asserting control. Their opening goal came just 11 minutes into the game. Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic headed the ball across goal for fellow countryman Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Though the initial shot was blocked by Al-Shorta’s goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo pounced on the rebound to put the home side ahead. Leonardo, signed from Benfica just last month to cover for the injured Neymar, continued to impress with his sharp positioning and finishing.

Just four minutes later, Al-Hilal doubled their lead. Renan Lodi, who has found his form after a mixed start last season, sent in a precise cross from the left. Mitrovic, displaying his trademark aerial prowess, got ahead of the defence and powered his header into the net. At 2-0, the match already looked beyond Al-Shorta, who struggled to make any meaningful inroads against Al-Hilal’s solid defence led by Kalidou Koulibaly and Ali Al-Bulaihi.

The Iraqis, who had managed to hold Al-Nassr to a draw two weeks ago, found their rare forays into Al-Hilal’s half stifled by a well-organized backline. Hussein Ali’s shot, which went wide, was one of the few moments where Al-Shorta looked like threatening the Saudi Pro League champions.

If there was any hope left for the visitors, it was snuffed out five minutes into the second half. Mitrovic, ever the playmaker, set up Salem Al-Dawsari on the edge of the area, and the Saudi winger made no mistake with his low, precise strike into the bottom corner. The 3-0 lead effectively ended any lingering doubt about the outcome.

Al-Hilal continued to press for more goals, and midway through the second half, Marcos Leonardo thought he had added a fourth after breaking into the penalty area. However, the offside flag denied him a second of the night. But the fans didn’t have to wait long for another goal. In the 73rd minute, Malcom, darting down the right wing, found Joao Cancelo with a clever pass. The Portuguese international crossed the ball for substitute Nasser Al-Dawsari, who easily tapped in from close range, making it 4-0.

The home side kept pushing for a fifth, with Cancelo coming close to adding his name to the scoresheet with a powerful shot that narrowly cleared the crossbar. Substitute Abdullah Al-Hamdan also came close, only for the Al-Shorta goalkeeper to intercept.

In the dying moments of the game, Al-Hilal finally found their fifth—and it was a beauty. Mohammed Kanno, linking up with Mohammed Al-Qahtani, curled a brilliant shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. The Riyadh crowd erupted in celebration as Kanno’s goal capped off a perfect night for the Saudi side.

Al-Hilal’s comprehensive 5-0 victory follows similarly strong performances from Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, making it a clean sweep for Saudi clubs on matchday 2 of the AFC Champions League. With eight goals scored and only one conceded in their opening two matches, Al-Hilal are emerging as a formidable contender for the title. Their strong start, combined with their recent form in the Saudi Pro League, signals that they will be a team to watch as the competition progresses.

For Al-Hilal, this ninth consecutive win in all competitions serves as a warning to their rivals—both in Saudi Arabia and across Asia—that they are once again aiming for continental glory. As the tournament heats up, the four-time AFC Champions League winners look set to make another deep run, and based on their current form, they’ll take some stopping.