ALAIN — Salem Al Dawsari scored a remarkable hat trick to secure a dramatic 5-4 victory for 10-man Al Hilal SFC against Al Ain FC at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Monday, maintaining Jorge Jesus' side's perfect start to the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25. Al Hilal took the lead in the 26th minute with a low shot from Renan Lodi, assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic. Al Ain equalized in the 39th minute when Soufiane Rahimi capitalized on a defensive error, poking the ball home after a corner kick. The match shifted in Al Hilal's favor just before half-time, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic heading Joao Cancelo's cross past Al Ain's goalkeeper, Eisa. Shortly after, Al Dawsari slotted home from a tight angle, giving Al Hilal a 2-1 lead. In the second half, Mateo Sanabria pulled one back for Al Ain in the 63rd minute, but Al Dawsari quickly restored the two-goal cushion, scoring his second with a looping shot over Eisa just two minutes later. Al Ain's Rahimi scored again in the 67th minute to make it 4-3, but Al Dawsari completed his hat trick with a thunderous strike from outside the area in the 75th minute. Despite a red card for Ali Al Bulayhi in the 82nd minute, Al Hilal managed to hold on for the win, even as Rahimi converted a late penalty in injury time after being fouled by Khalifa Al Dawsari. This thrilling result avenges Al Hilal's semi-final loss to Al Ain last season and keeps them atop the league standings with nine points from their opening games, while Al Ain remains on just one point after losing two of their first three matches.
