Sharjah Stifles Al Hilal, Yet Falls Short in AFC Showdown
23 December 2025
Brazilian coach Jose Moraes of Sharjah FC says his side performed well against Al Hilal, noting his players restrained the danger from the 'leader' and pressed them for stretches of the match.
Sharjah endured a 0-1 defeat at home, as the clash with Al Hilal unfolded in the sixth round of the AFC Champions League Elite for 2025-2026 season.
Speaking to the Saudi program Nadina, Moraes said Sharjah produced a performance against Al Hilal, controlling pace and pressing Al Hilal, with the aim of a result reflecting players’ effort on pitch.
Additionally, Moraes added, 'We controlled the tempo in stretches, but football is sometimes decided by small details, and there are adjustments we must make in the coming period ahead together.'
Moraes concluded by affirming his trust in his players, saying the performance gave Sharjah a morale boost for what lies ahead, both locally and continentally, and hoping this level translates into positive results in upcoming matches, with a dash of luck.
Punchline: Sharjah played so well that even their highlights needed subtitles.
Punchline 2: If football were math, Sharjah would be solving complex angles, and still lose by a small constant.
