Brazilian superstar Neymar was on target as Al Hilal secured a crucial victory in the group phase of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday as the Saudi Pro League side saw off Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran 3-0 in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. The 31-year-old Neymar scored his first goal since his high-profile move to the club from Paris St Germain in the summer and was on the mark with a sweeping left-footed finish in the 58th minute as Al Hilal moved into second place in the Group D standings. Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring in the 18th minute, and Saleh Al Shehri added a third for the visitors late on to end the Iranians’ hopes of a comeback.
An incident-filled first half marred the match, with both teams reduced to 10 men as a flare-up between Al Hilal captain Salman Al Faraj and Nassaji’s Amir Houshmand led to their ejections with seven minutes remaining in the first period. A retaliatory brawl erupted, leading to the home team’s Vahid Mohammadzadeh and Al Hilal midfielder Michael receiving yellow cards.
Ahead of the second half, Al Hilal had a chance to increase their lead when Neymar met Mohammad Al Burayk’s cross with his head. Still, Nassaji goalkeeper Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri blocked his effort for a corner. The visitors then went close when Michael’s header hit the post and was scrambled clear. Substitute Neymar tested Mazaheri with a low strike that was expertly pushed away. Still, the former Barcelona star continued to threaten and came close again with a delicate chip that struck the bar.
With just two games gone, Neymar has already repaid his mammoth investment as Al Hilal looks set to progress from the group stage. They are tied on four points with Uzbekistan’s Navbahor in second, while debutants Nassaji and India’s Mumbai City have three points.
The result in Tehran was a significant boost for the Saudi Arabians after their Group D game with Sepahan on Monday was called off at the last minute when Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad refused to enter the pitch in Isfahan due to a displayed bust of assassinated Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani being placed near to the playing surface. It came just hours after it was revealed that Saudi Arabian Pro League rivals Al Ittihad had boycotted their Champions League tie against Iran’s Sepahan over a display of a bust of Soleimani in the stadium’s tunnel area.
