Late fightback seals top spot: Al-Hilal edge Al-Gharafa to reclaim AFC Elite West lead

Match snapshot

Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia reclaimed the Western lead in the AFC Champions League Elite by beating host Al-Gharafa 2-1 at the Al Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Al Rayyan, moving to 12 points as Al Wahda of the UAE briefly led the group on 10. The result marked a return to the summit for the Saudi giants in a round that showcased the intensity of the West region’s battle for knockout stage spots.

Salem Al-Dosari opened the scoring for Hilal in the ninth minute, and Kai César added a second in the 66th, punctuating a controlled display that put the visitors in the driving seat. Al-Gharafa’s reply came late, with Ayoub Mohammed scoring in the 8th minute of stoppage time, a consolation that did little to change the outcome but did little to dampen the mood in Rayyan.

The game began at a high tempo, with a video review for offside and a near-penalty moment that provided a brief VAR moment but ultimately did not alter the day’s outcome. Joao Castilho won back possession on the right and whipped in a cross that Al-Dosari met with a looping header, guiding the ball past Khalifa Abu Bakr for the opening goal in minute nine.

Al-Gharafa pressed in search of parity, but Hilal’s defense and relentless pressing kept the hosts at bay for long stretches. The second goal arrived through a powerful strike from outside the box by Kai César, sealing the three points and extending Hilal’s spotless run in the group so far this season.

Diallo of Al-Gharafa had a dangerous moment in the second half that required a smart save from Yassine Bounou, who preserved the lead with a sharp stop. Al-Gharafa continued to push, but the late strike from Ayoub Mohammed proved to be a glimmer of hope rather than a turning point as Hilal held firm to claim victory.

Hilal had kicked off the campaign with a 2-1 win over Duhail in Riyadh, followed by a 3-2 victory against Nasaf in Qarshi and a 3-1 win over S Sadd in Riyadh. Al-Gharafa, for their part, had defeated Al Shorta 2-0 in Doha but suffered a 0-4 loss to defending champions Al Ahli Saudi and a 3-4 setback to Al Sharjah in Round 1, before tonight’s result.

Round 4 also featured Al Wahda’s 2-1 win over Nasaf in Qarshi and Tractor’s 1-0 victory against Al Shorta in Tabriz. Tomorrow’s schedule promises more group-stage drama: Shabab Al Ahli vs Al-Gharafa in Dubai on November 24, and Hilal versus Al Shorta in Riyadh on November 25. Each team will play eight group matches, with the top eight advancing to the Round of 16 in March 2026; the knockout rounds, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final, are slated to be staged in Saudi Arabia in April 2026.

In short, Hilal’s win keeps them on course to defend their place among Asia’s elite, a task the club has pursued with a blend of clinical finishing and seasoned defense. Ayoub Mohammed’s late strike added a touch of drama, but it wasn’t enough to shift the balance back in this encounter.

Punchline time: If football were algebra, Al-Hilal just solved for X and X equals three points. Second punchline: Bono didn’t blink—except at the scoreboard—proving that in football, even your goalkeepers can become part of a stand-up routine when the ball refuses to cross the line.