In a dramatic night of thrilling twists and turns, Iraqi side Al-Shorta secured a hard-fought and well-deserved 3-2 victory over Qatari visitors Al-Duhail in the final match of the AFC Champions League group stage (West Zone). This win was more than just three points for Al-Shorta; it dealt a significant blow to Al-Duhail's ambitions, forcing them into a complex battle to secure a place in the Round of 16.

Details of the exciting encounter

The match began at a fast pace, with Al-Duhail launching an early attack. Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a spectacular bicycle kick, a goal confirmed by the referee after a VAR review. However, the home side's response was swift, with Bassam Shaker equalizing for Al-Shorta in the 19th minute with a well-placed left-footed shot that found the back of the net.

Before the halftime whistle, Al-Duhail regained their lead through a penalty expertly converted by Benjamin Bourigeaud, leading everyone to believe the Qatari team was on its way to victory. However, the second half brought a stunning upset, as Al-Shorta of Iraq, led by their Senegalese star Boli Sambo, staged a remarkable comeback. Within just two minutes, Sambo turned the tables on the visitors. He unleashed a powerful shot in the 57th minute that goalkeeper Salah Zakaria couldn't stop, before returning a minute later to score the decisive winning goal, capitalizing on a perfectly placed cross from his teammate Hussein Ali.

The teams' positions and qualification scenarios

With this result, Al-Duhail's points tally remains at 8, dropping them to seventh place and placing them under immense pressure as they await the remaining results of the round to determine their fate in the tournament, since only the top eight clubs from the West Zone qualify for the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Al-Shorta of Iraq raised their points to 5, securing eleventh place and achieving their first league victory – a win that carries significant morale for the team and its fans despite their precarious position in the competition.

The new tournament system and the road to Saudi Arabia

This edition of the AFC Champions League is particularly significant as it is the first to be held under the new league format (Swiss system), where each team plays eight matches. The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for March 2026, while all eyes will be on Saudi Arabia, which will host the final stages (quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final) in a centralized format during April 2026, further intensifying the competition among Asian clubs vying for the most prestigious continental title.

Al-Hilal continued their dominance over their rivals and reaffirmed their continental supremacy, concluding the AFC Champions League group stage with a perfect record and an unbeaten record after securing a well-deserved and thrilling 2-1 victory over their Emirati visitors, Al-Wahda. The match took place on Monday evening at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, in front of a large crowd, as part of the final round of group stage matches.

Al-Hilal owes this precious victory to its Uruguayan star, Darwin Núñez, who established himself as the man of the match by scoring both of the Blue team's goals in the 19th and 77th minutes. Al-Wahda's lone goal came from Malian Ibrahima Diarra in the 32nd minute. With this result, Al-Hilal raised its points tally to 22, soaring to the top of the Western Group and sending a strong message to the other competitors in the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Al-Wahda's points remained at 14, temporarily holding onto fourth place.

Match details and technical excitement

The match was highly competitive from the opening minutes, with Al Hilal creating an early chance through a header from Frenchman Mohamed Kader Meite, which Al Wahda goalkeeper Zayed Al Hammadi brilliantly saved in the fourth minute. Meanwhile, Al Hilal goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie played a pivotal role in keeping his net intact at crucial moments, notably making a difficult save from a powerful shot by Argentinian Facundo in the 15th minute, turning it behind for a corner.

Al-Hilal responded quickly, with Darwin Nunez opening the scoring with a well-placed header in the 19th minute, before missing a clear one-on-one opportunity two minutes later. Despite Al-Hilal's attempts to extend their lead, Al-Wahda managed to get back into the game from a corner kick, headed in by Ibrahima Diarra in the 32nd minute. The first half also saw Al-Rubaie make a brilliant save from a shot by Syrian Omar Kharbin, and the crossbar denying Al-Wahda a second goal from Facundo.

The second half and Al-Hilal's decisive victory

In the second half, Al Hilal intensified their attacks, with Portuguese player Ruben Neves nearly scoring, but his shot went just wide of the post. The same scenario repeated itself with substitute Sultan Mandash. As the pressure continued, Nunez sealed the victory with a second goal in the 77th minute, capitalizing on a cross which he powerfully volleyed into the net. Al Wahda tried to equalize in stoppage time, but Mohammed Al-Rubaie's alertness thwarted Abdullah Al-Menhali's shot in the 90th minute.

The importance of victory and the context of the championship

This victory holds special significance beyond just the three points; it reinforces Al-Hilal's technical and administrative stability and confirms the team's readiness to compete for the continental title in its new "Elite" format. Finishing the group stage undefeated and in first place gives the team a significant psychological and technical advantage before entering the knockout rounds, guaranteeing them matches against relatively lower-ranked teams and the opportunity to play the decisive second leg at home in front of their fans.

Regionally, this match reflects the significant development in the level of competition between Saudi and Emirati clubs. Al Wahda delivered a strong performance despite the loss, promising more exciting encounters in the future. This performance underscores the rising standard of the tournament, which brings together the continent's elite clubs, thus enhancing the market and technical value of Asian football.

Al-Hilal's coaching staff suffered a major blow with the confirmed absence of their star Uruguayan striker, Darwin Núñez, from the team's upcoming Round of 16 match in the AFC Champions League. This forced absence is due to an accumulation of yellow cards, presenting the Blue Wave with a significant challenge as the knockout stages of the prestigious continental tournament begin.

The confirmation of his absence came after Al-Hilal's last group stage match against Al-Wahda, a game that saw Nunez deliver a remarkable performance, scoring two crucial goals that helped solidify Al-Hilal's lead in the West Zone group. Despite his heroic display, receiving a yellow card during the match meant he would be suspended for the next game, according to AFC regulations regarding disciplinary matters and the accumulation of yellow cards.

The impact of the absence on the leader's continental ambitions

The absence of Núñez is a significant technical loss for Al-Hilal, especially given his outstanding performances and clinical finishing ability in front of goal. The AFC Champions League, in its new format, holds paramount importance for Saudi clubs, particularly Al-Hilal, which always strives to solidify its dominance in Asia. The knockout stages typically demand peak fitness for all key players, as there is no room for error in knockout matches. This necessitates that the coaching staff find a suitable replacement capable of compensating for the attacking prowess that the Uruguayan star brings.

Local and historical challenges await Al-Hilal

Aside from their Asian campaign, Al-Hilal faces tough challenges domestically as they continue their fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League. Following the conclusion of the Asian group stage, all eyes turn to the highly anticipated Saudi Arabian derby, where Al-Hilal will face their traditional rivals, Al-Ittihad, in the 23rd round of matches.

Matches between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad always carry a special significance and a rich historical legacy, making this game pivotal in both teams' pursuit of the title. Al-Hilal will need to balance the pressure of continental and domestic matches, and manage player rotation intelligently to avoid fatigue and injuries at this crucial stage of the season. This is especially important as Al-Hilal fans are counting on the squad's depth to overcome the challenge of key absences and continue their winning streak.