Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 02, 2025

Saudi clubs set for semi showdown after Al Hilal down Persepolis

Saudi clubs set for semi showdown after Al Hilal down Persepolis

Al Nassr and Al Hilal set up an all-Saudi Arabian semi-final in the Asian Champions League on Saturday as wins over Al Wahda and Persepolis respectively took the Riyadh-based duo into the competition's last four.
The clubs, bitter rivals at domestic level, will face off on Tuesday for a place in the final of the continental championship, with Al Hilal looking for their second title in three seasons.

Leonardo Jardim's team brushed aside a Persepolis side that had been losing finalists in 2018 and 2020, but the Iranians had no answer for the 2019 champions losing 3-0.

Salem Al Dawsari gave Al Hilal the lead in the 27th minute before a Bafetimbi Gomis double in the second half put the result beyond doubt.

Al Dawsari took a searching pass from fellow Saudi Arabia international Mohammed Kanoo in his stride before cutting in on his right foot and firing into the top corner from 25 yards.

Gomis applied the finishing touch to a flowing move five minutes after the restart to double Al Hilal's lead and, with 20 minutes left, the French striker put the result beyond doubt when he stabbed the ball in from the edge of the six yard box.

Earlier in the evening Al Nassr booked their place in the final with a 5-1 dismantling of Al Wahda from the United Arab Emirates, with Uzbekistan international Jaloliddin Masharipov scoring twice.

Al Nassr took the lead when Abderrazak Hamdallah stroked the ball home in the seventh minute before Masharipov doubled the advantage seven minutes into the second half as he curled home from outside the corner of the penalty area.

Abdulfattah Asiri netted from close range four minutes later and Marshirpov claimed his second in the 65th minute, slipping the ball under Mohammed Al Shamsi having been released by Hamdallah.

Saudi Arabia international Sami Al Najaei added the fifth 15 minutes from time when he tapped in unopposed after Ayman Yahya headed Anderson Talisca's ball back across goal, leaving Ismail Matar to head in a stoppage time consolation for Al Wahda.

The quarter-finals for clubs in the east of the continent will be played on Sunday, with defending champions Ulsan Hyundai taking on fellow South Koreans Jeonbuk Motors after another Korean side, Pohang Steelers, face Japan's Nagoya Grampus.

Concerns over international travel due to the pandemic have seen home-and-away fixtures in the knockout rounds replaced by one-off fixtures for this year's competition.

Al Hilal and Al Nassr will meet at Mrsool Park in Riyadh on Tuesday while the semi-final for east Asia will be played in Jeonju in South Korea on Wednesday.

The final will be played in Saudi Arabia on Nov. 23.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
×