RIYADH — Al Hilal reclaimed the top spot in the West Zone of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Persepolis FC in their penultimate League Stage match on Tuesday. Brazilian midfielder Malcom delivered a standout performance, scoring his first goal of the campaign and assisting twice to inspire Al Hilal to a crucial win. The result saw the Saudi side move ahead of Al Ahli Saudi FC on goal difference. For Persepolis, the defeat meant dropping out of the top eight, though the Iranian club still has a chance to advance to the next stage with one match remaining. Persepolis started strong at Kingdom Arena, but Al Hilal broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a brilliant individual goal from Malcom. Picking up the ball inside his own half, he surged forward unchallenged before expertly lifting his shot past Alexis Guendouz. Buoyed by the opener, Al Hilal pressed forward and doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Joao Cancelo latched onto a Malcom pass and unleashed a swerving low shot from outside the box. Although Guendouz got a hand to it, he couldn't keep it out. Malcom continued his dominant display, providing his second assist in the 39th minute, slipping the ball to Salem Al Dawsari, who calmly rounded Guendouz and scored from a tight angle. Just before halftime, Al Hilal further extended their lead with a stunning long-range strike from Al Dawsari in added time, finishing off another Cancelo assist to make it 4-0. Persepolis head coach Ismail Kartal made a triple substitution in the second half, introducing Giorgio Gvelesiani, Saied Mehri, and Farshad Ahmadzadeh in an attempt to boost their attacking options alongside Serdar Dursun. Gvelesiani managed to pull one back for Persepolis in the 90th minute, converting from the penalty spot after Isa Alkasir was fouled by Ali Al Bulayhi, but it was no more than a consolation as Al Hilal's dominant first-half display secured the win. Al Hilal will wrap up their League Stage campaign against Al Wasl FC of the United Arab Emirates, while Persepolis will face Al Nassr Club, hoping to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
