Al-Hilal begin their Asian campaign with a brace against Al-Gharafa

Al-Hilal secured a valuable victory against Al-Gharafa with a score of 2-1 during the match that took place on Tuesday evening, in the first round of the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite.

Al-Hilal began to threaten Al-Gharafa's goal in the 24th minute, when Gabriel Martinelli received a pass from Nasser Al-Dosari, before shooting from a tight angle, but the goalkeeper saved the ball.

The Saudi team returned to attempt to score after 5 minutes, through Crisencio Summerville, who fired a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area, but it was blocked by Al-Gharafa's defense.

A surprising turn of events occurred in the 32nd minute as the referee showed a red card to Crisenacio Smervil, followed by the sending off of Ismaël Bennacer from Al-Gharafa, leaving both teams with 10 players.

Al-Hilal were awarded a penalty before the break, which Rúben Neves successfully converted, placing the ball in the top left corner in the 3rd minute of added time.

Al-Hilal pressed for a new goal at the start of the second half, with Gabriel Martinelli shooting from outside the box in the 50th minute, but Al-Gharafa's goalkeeper saved the attempt.

Two minutes later, Simon Bouabri missed a chance to extend Al-Hilal's lead, as he fired a shot from the right side of the penalty area, but the goalkeeper was ready for it.

In the 64th minute, Yassine Bounou made another appearance, capitalising on a pass from Sergej Milinković-Savić and shooting from the left side, but the Al-Gharafa goalkeeper saved the ball.

Al-Hilal managed to score their second goal in the 72nd minute, as Sergej Milinković-Savić converted a cross from the right into the net of the Qatari team.

Alaa Al-Din Hassan brought Al-Gharafa back into the match in the 92nd minute, firing a shot from outside the penalty area that goalkeeper Yassine Bounou could not stop.

Al-Hilal maintained their lead despite a late goal until the final whistle, earning their first 3 points in their journey in the AFC Champions League Elite, while Al-Gharafa left empty-handed from the opening round.