Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia suffered a surprising defeat against their host Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan, losing 1-0 in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16 during the match held on Tuesday evening at Jar Stadium in Tashkent.

Pakhtakor managed to score the only goal of the match in the 29th minute through Brazilian Flamarion Filio, following an organized attack that confused Al-Hilal's defense.

Despite Al-Hilal's attempts to come back in the match, Pakhtakor's defensive formation and the brilliance of their goalkeeper prevented any goals from being scored by the visitors.

Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh has been appointed to officiate the return leg, where he will face a significant challenge in the anticipated match in Riyadh.

Al-Hilal aims to leverage the home advantage and their fans to compensate for the loss and seize the qualification ticket, while Pakhtakor aspires to maintain their lead and advance to the next round.