5 November 2024
Brazilian star Neymar was subbed off with an injury again during the match between his team Al Hilal Saudi Arabia and its opponent Esteghlal Tehran of Iran. Neymar had resumed playing after 385 days of injury. Neymar left the field after only 30 minutes but despite that, Al Hilal achieved a crushing victory over Esteghlal Tehran with three clean goals.
Al Hilal Saudi Arabia continued its ideal start in the AFC Champions League for the elite football competition by achieving its fourth consecutive victory when it defeated its guest Esteghlal Tehran of Iran with three clean goals scored by its Serbian international striker Aleksandar Mitrovic on Monday at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, but it lost the services of its Brazilian star Neymar due to a muscle injury.
In front of 17,840 fans, led by Frenchman Herve Renard, who returned to coach the Saudi national team after the departure of Italian Roberto Mancini, Mitrovic scored the three goals in the 15th, 33rd and 74th minutes, raising his tally to four goals in the competition.
Al-Hilal strengthened its tally at the top of the standings with 12 points, on goal difference ahead of its compatriot Al-Ahli, who defeated its guest, Al-Shorta of Iraq, 5-1 in Jeddah, while Esteghlal Tehran’s tally froze at 3 points in seventh place. However, Al-Hilal’s joy was spoiled in the 87th minute by the recurrence of the injury of its star Neymar, who entered as a substitute at the beginning of the second half.
