Al Ittihad downs Aly's Al Hilal to reach ACL quarters

AP, Wednesday 25 May 2011

The second half substitute, Egypt’s Ahmed Ali, failed to rescue his team, Al Hilal, from being booted from ACL in Tuesday's Al Ittihad match

Ahmed Ali

Al Ittihad eliminated Al Hilal 3-1 in an all-Saudi Arabia clash and progressed to the Asian Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Al Ittihad dominated the clash between the pair of two-time Asian champions, earning a measure of revenge for losing out to its Jeddah rival for the Saudi league title.

Portuguese midfielder Nuno Assis opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he made a perfectly timed run in the box, took a pass from Mohammed Noor and scored. The host doubled its lead two minutes later when Paulo George’s cross found Abdelmalik Ziaya.

It became 3-0 just before the hour mark after Assis took a pass in the area and lobbed a shot over onrushing Al Hilal goalkeeper Hasan Al Otaibi.

Al Hilal got on board in the 82nd when Abdulaziz Aldawsari curled in a left-footed shot.

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