JEDDAH — Al Sadd advanced to the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals after defeating Al Hilal 4-2 on penalties following a dramatic 3-3 draw after extra time on Monday.
The Qatari champions fought back three times during a pulsating Round of 16 clash at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium before sealing qualification in the shootout to set up a quarter-final meeting with Vissel Kobe.
Al Sadd, already crowned Qatar Stars League champions ahead of the match, started brightly, testing goalkeeper Yassine Bounou early through Mohamed Camara and Roberto Firmino.
Al Hilal took the lead in the 29th minute when Sergej Milinković-Savić finished from close range after excellent work by Theo Hernandez.
The advantage lasted just seven minutes, with Claudinho capitalizing on a defensive error to level the score before halftime.
Ruben Neves restored Al Hilal’s lead in the 55th minute, setting up Salem Al-Dawsari to finish calmly.
Once again, Al Sadd responded almost immediately, with Rafael Mujica equalizing three minutes later.
Al Hilal struck for a third time in the 67th minute when substitute Marcos Leonardo converted from a cutback by Karim Benzema.
But Al Sadd refused to back down, leveling for a third time when Firmino headed home from a quick throw-in to send the tie into extra time.
Neither side could find a winner in the additional period, with Al Hilal coming closest through Pablo Marí, whose late effort drifted narrowly wide.
In the shootout, Firmino missed Al Sadd’s opening penalty, but misses from Benzema and Saimon Bouabre proved decisive. Akram Afif calmly converted the winning spot-kick to send Al Sadd through.
Source: Saudi Gazette