In a match brimming with drama, skill, and no shortage of heart-stopping moments, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal continued their perfect run in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 group stage with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf at the Markaziy Stadium in Qarshi on Monday, September 29, 2025. The four-time Asian champions now sit atop their group with six points from two games, having already dispatched Qatar’s Al Duhail in their opener. For Nasaf, it was another agonizing defeat to Saudi Pro League opposition, following a previous loss to defending champions Al Ahli.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this would be no ordinary contest. Al-Hilal, led by coach Simone Inzaghi, wasted no time asserting themselves. In just the second minute, Ruben Neves forced a sharp save from Nasaf’s Abduvakhid Nematov, foreshadowing the onslaught to come. And while Theo Hernandez thought he’d given the visitors the lead inside 90 seconds, his effort was ruled out for offside—a sign that Nasaf wouldn’t roll over easily.
The breakthrough arrived in the 21st minute, and it was as much a product of pressure as opportunism. Abdullah Al Hamdan whipped in a low cross from the right, which Nematov should have handled comfortably. Instead, the Nasaf keeper fumbled the ball, and Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was on hand to roll it into the empty net. “We played well with a fast tempo to get a positive result,” coach Simone Inzaghi later remarked, underlining his side’s aggressive approach.
But Nasaf weren’t about to be intimidated on their home turf. Just six minutes after falling behind, Sardorbek Bakhromov picked up the ball from over 25 yards out and, with Al-Hilal’s defenders slow to close him down, unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner past Yassine Bounou. The home crowd erupted—a moment of pure class that briefly shifted the momentum.
Al-Hilal, though, responded with poise. The first half ended with a flourish as French fullback Theo Hernandez delivered a goal that will surely be replayed for weeks to come. Picking up possession 35 yards from goal, Hernandez slalomed past four defenders, stumbled but regained his footing, and coolly clipped the ball over the advancing Nematov in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. It was a dazzling solo effort, restoring Al-Hilal’s lead and showcasing the kind of individual brilliance that’s made him a star since his days at AC Milan.
Despite dominating possession—Al-Hilal controlled 63% of the ball and fired 17 shots, 11 of which were on target—the visitors couldn’t shake Nasaf’s resilience. The hosts, limited to just five shots all game, made the most of their opportunities. On the hour mark, Umarbek Eshmurodov split the Al-Hilal defense with an incisive pass, releasing substitute Javokhir Sidikov into space. Sidikov steadied himself and slotted the ball past Bounou at the near post, leveling the score at 2-2 and sending the Markaziy Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
“We scored two times but they came back two times so it was difficult. But in the end we scored the third goal and it was an important win today,” Al-Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly told reporters, capturing the tension that gripped both sides throughout the contest.
As the clock ticked down, both teams pressed desperately for a winner. Nematov redeemed himself with crucial saves from Mohammed Kanno and Kaio Cesar, while at the other end, Nasaf’s attacks fizzled out against a disciplined Al-Hilal backline. With 11 minutes left, it was Milinkovic-Savic again at the heart of the action, driving forward before sliding a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo. With composure beyond his years, Leonardo lifted the ball over the onrushing Nematov for what proved to be the decisive goal.
Al-Hilal’s victory was not just about individual moments of brilliance; it was a testament to their collective resilience and tactical discipline. The visitors twice surrendered their lead but refused to be rattled, ultimately finding the quality needed to secure all three points. Their dominance in possession and chance creation was clear, but so too was their vulnerability to Nasaf’s quick transitions and long-range shooting.
For Nasaf, the defeat leaves them still searching for their first points of the campaign. Despite being outplayed for stretches, they showed remarkable grit, twice clawing their way back into the contest and threatening to snatch a result. Their supporters will take heart from Bakhromov’s stunning equalizer and Sidikov’s cool finish, but the inability to keep Al-Hilal at bay in the closing stages proved costly.
Elsewhere in the Asian Champions League Elite, the action was just as fierce. Al-Ahli, the defending champions, were held to a 2-2 draw by Al-Duhail in Doha after a see-saw battle that saw Edmilson Junior and Krzysztof Piatek score for the hosts, while Matheus Goncalves and Riyad Mahrez found the net for the Saudi side. Qatar’s Al-Gharafa claimed a 2-0 victory over Iraq’s Al-Shorta, with Joselu and Ferjani Sassi on target, while Tractor FC of Iran played out a goalless draw with Al-Wahda from the United Arab Emirates.
With two rounds now complete in the group phase, the competition is heating up. Al-Hilal’s six points from two games put them in pole position to advance to the knockout rounds, which are slated to be held in Saudi Arabia in late April 2026. The top eight teams from each of the West and East Asia groups will make the cut, promising more high-stakes drama in the months ahead.
Looking ahead, Al-Hilal will aim to build on their momentum and cement their status as favorites to lift a fifth continental crown. For Nasaf, the challenge will be to regroup, learn from their close encounters with Saudi opposition, and reignite their campaign in the coming fixtures.
As the dust settles in Qarshi, one thing is clear: Al-Hilal’s blend of star power, tactical savvy, and fighting spirit makes them a formidable force in this year’s Asian Champions League Elite. Their latest triumph—earned the hard way on a tricky Central Asian pitch—sends a message to the rest of the continent: underestimate the Saudi giants at your peril.
With the group stage now in full swing, fans across Asia can expect more fireworks as the continent’s best battle for supremacy and a coveted place in the knockout rounds. Al-Hilal, for now, lead the way—unbeaten, unbowed, and brimming with ambition.
