Al-Hilal Vs Al-Ahli Saudi Highlights, AFC Champions League Semi-Final: Firmino, Toney Score To Secure 3-1 Win Against 10-Men Al-Za'eem

Welcome to the start of our live coverage of the Al-Hilal vs Al-Ahli Saudi clash in the AFC Champions League 2024-25 semi-final tie. Stay tuned for live updates, including starting lineups.

The match will be played at hte King Abdullah Sports City on 29 April, from 10:00 PM IST.

To find out how to watch the match live in India, read here.

Before the starting XIs are released, let's look at the injury concerns and suspensions for both teams:

Al-Hilal: None

Al-Ahli: Saad Balobaid (hamstring, doubtful)

Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli have faced each other 23 times in all competitions.

Al-Hilal Won: 11

Al-Ahli Won: 5

Draw: 7

Last five matches:

Al-Hilal 2-0 Al-Ahli (Saudi Pro League, 1 Mar 2025)

Al-Ahli 1-2 Al-Hilal (Saudi Pro League, 5 Oct 2024)

Al-Hilal 1-1 Al Ahli (4-1 PEN) (Super Cup, 13 Aug 2024)

Al-Ahli 1-2 Al-Hilal (Saudi Pro League, 6 May 2024)

Al-Hilal 3-1 Al-Ahli (Saudi Pro League, 27 Oct 2024)

Al-Hilal: Yassine Bounou; Ali Al-Bulayhi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Yasir Al Shahrani, Renan Lodi; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom, Ruben Neves; Marcos Leonardo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Salem Al-Dawsari

Al-Ahli: Edouard Mendy; Ezgjan Alioski, Merih Demiral, Roger Ibanez, Ali Majrashi; Ziyad Aljohani, Roberto Firmino, Franck Kessie; Wenderson Galeno, Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez

Al-Hilal: Mohammed Al Owais, Mohammed Al-Rubaie, Hamad Al Yami, Hassan Tambakti, Khalifah Aldawsari, Moteb Al-Harbi, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Mohamed Kanno, Nasser Al Dawsari, Kaio, Khalid Al Ghannam, Mohammed Hamad Al Qahtani

Al-Ahli: Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, Abdullah Abdo, Mohammed Sulaiman, Sumayhan Al-Nabit, Firas Al-Buraikan, Alexsander Gomes, Eid Al-Muwallad, Fahad Al-Rashidi, Gabriel Vega, Saad Balobaid, Matteo Dams, Rayan Hamed

Fans can expect to see more than one goals tonight, as the last EIGHT outings between these two teams have not been goalless draws. The last 0-0 result came way back in January 2021!

There will likely be a winner as well, as the last six matches between these two teams have not ended in draws.

The referee blows his whistle, and we are underway at Jeddah! Stay tuned for live updates from the match.

HIL 0-0 AHL (0')

A booking within 30 seconds of the game! Alioski kicks at Malcom when the Brazilian is down on the pitch, and immediately gets a yellow card. The Al-Hilal players are incensed that the colour of the card wasn't red. It's all kicking off.

HIL 0-0 AHL (1')

Early pressure from Al-Hilal players, as both Milinkovic-Savic and Mitrovic are attempting to target Ibanez. Meanwhile, Majrashi sees a yellow card for pulling down Al-Dawsari, preventing his Saudi compatriot from breaking down the left flank.

HIL 0-0 AHL (6')

Rober Ibanez put in a fantastic through ball. It seemed to be a bit overhit, but Wenderson Galeno put in the afterburners down the left flank, keeping the ball in and cutting it back first time, and Roberto Firmino is there to poke it home from close range to give Al-Ahli the lead, completely against the run of play.

HIL 0-1 AHL (9')

What a setback this is for Al-Ahli Saudi! The Brazilian, who put in a terrific cross for Firmino's goal, is receiving treatment on the sidelines, but it seems difficult for him to continue. The physios are attending to him, and we shall see the manager's response.

HIL 0-1 AHL (13')

What a terrific chance for Al-Ahli!! Firmino is at the heart of this again, playing a disguised pass to Franck Kessie, who makes a well-timed run down the right edge of the box. The midfielder overpowers Renan Lodi and takes a shot towards the far side, but Bono goes down quickly and gets a hand to it, and the ball creeps out of the post. A stunning save from the Moroccan.

HIL 0-1 AHL (19')

All the attacking chances are falling to Al-Ahli at the moment. Firmino -- who else -- runs with the ball and plays Ivan Toney down the right side, and the English striker played a cross across the face of the goal, but Al-Hilal manage to half-clear it. The resulting shot from Ziyad Aljohani goes wide.

Meanwhile, Kessie, who felt something in his hamstring after his chance, goes down again, and gets out of the pitch to get some treatment.

HIL 0-1 AHL (25')

Ivan Toney is played by a terrific ball from Riyad Mahrez, and the Englishman goes around Bono to knock it into an empty net. Al-Ahli's celebrations are cut short as that the flag goes up, but VAR check shows that Renan Lodi played Toney on. Goal stands.

HIL 0-2 AHL (27')

There's a bit of confusion in the Al-Ahli box, as a floated delivery is met by Aleksandar Mitrovic, but the defnder collides with Edouard Mendy while blocking the shot. The ball just about keeps out of the net, but the goalkeeper is down hurt.

HIL 0-2 AHL (32')

Riyad Mahrez runs from the centre of midfield and not one Al-Hilal player throws in a challenge. The Algerian again feeds Ivan Toney down the right, and the striker targets the far post but it goes just wide.

HIL 0-2 AHL (40')

A lifeline for Al-Hilal! Salem A deflection from Franck Kessie lands the ball into Al-Dawsari's foot right outside the box, and the forward comes inside and finishes past Mendy. 10th goal in the AFC Champions League for the Saudi player!

The Al-Hilal supporters have suddenly found thier voices again.

HIL 1-2 AHL (42')

Sixth minutes of added time announced by the fourth official. The goal has given new life to Al-Hilal, and both Malcom and Leonardo come close inside the box, but the defence somehow holds on to their lead ahead of the break.

HIL 1-2 AHL (45+2')

Now it feels like we have a rivalry on our hands. A throw in is taken quickly by Al-Hilal, but Merih Demiral, who was on the touchline, kicks in another ball deliberately. The Al-Hilal bench reacts furiously, and one of the coach comes in pushing everybody down the touchline.

Demiral is booked, and one of the staff members -- not sure if he was the one who pushed -- is sent off.

HIL 1-2 AHL (45+6')

It was all boiling over before the break, as Kalidou Koulibaly rugby tackles Ivan Toney, but the referee only shows a yellow card. The striker is down on the pitch even after the whistle is blown, and Kessie and two other players had an angry discussion with the referees after the half-time break.

HIL 1-2 AHL (HT)

The referee blows his whistle, and the second half is underway.

HIL 1-2 AHL (45')

Firmino tries to turn with the ball in the box, but Milinkovic-Savic puts a foot in. The ball falls to Toney, unmarked and with just the goalkeeper to beat, and the striker puts the ball in the back of the net.

The goal is overturned as the flag goes up. VAR has a long check to see that the ball was not played by an Al-Hilal player, but the referee's decision stands.

HIL 1-2 AHL (50')

What is going on?! Firmino plays Alioski free down the left flank, and the North Macedonian cuts it back perfectly for Ivan Toney to finish, but the flag goes up AGAIN!

Replays show that Alioski was at least a metre offside when Firmino played the ball.

HIL 1-2 AHL (55')

It was a long time coming, really. Koulibaly has been reckless throughout the match, and he gets caught out by Roger Ibanez's bust in pace. The Senegalese is almost a whole minute late in his challenge, and Ibanez goes down in a heap. The referee has no choice but to show Koulibaly a second yellow card. Al-Hilal 2-1 down and a man down as well.

HIL 1-2 AHL (60')

Alioski floats in a fantastic cross in the box, and Ibanez meets the ball. The ball drops to Firmino's feet, and the forward tries to go around Bonou and shoot, but the keeper makes himself big and keeps it out. The flag goes up anyway, and as all three Al-Ahli attackers were offside when the cross came in.

HIL 1-2 AHL (67')

There's a bit of controversy as Kaio Cesar, who came on in the 59th minute, is substituted for defender Hassan Tambakti. The Brazilian is fuming, taking off his shin guards and throwing his arms in frustration as he goes off.

Cesar is not met by manager Jorge Jesus, and just continues to fume on the bench as teammates come to console him. Absolutely brutal from the veteran manager.

HIL 1-2 AHL (70')

Alioski, on the overlap, cuts back to Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian hits it first time, but the ball is always curling away, and hits the far post and comes back as Bono is rooted in his position. The ball comes to the onrushing Riyad Mahrez, but the Algerian's shot hits the post AGAIN and goes behind.

HIL 1-2 AHL (73')

Galeno opens up his body as he cuts in down the left side, and the ball hits the far post again! The post is Al-Hilal's man of the match at the moment.

HIL 1-2 AHL (78')

Toney keeps on running with the ball, passing it to Mahrez after the Algerian arrives in support. He cuts inside the box, but a trailing leg from Hamad Al Yami brings Mahrez down. Referee waves play on, but VAR recommends him to take a second view. The penalty is given.

HIL 1-2 AHL (83')

Franck Kessie steps up to take the penalty in place of Ivan Toney, and the Ivorian stares down Bono. After a simple run up, Kessie shoots towards his left, but the goalkeeper goes down correctly, and the shot is at a good height for him to save.

Kessie's decision to take the penalty, instead of Toney, who is yet to miss a spot kick for Al-Ahli this season, will be talked about for some time.

HIL 1-2 AHL (86')

The fourth official signals eight minutes of added time.

HIL 1-2 AHL (90')

A fantastic end ot the match for Al-Ahli, as Feras Al Brikan finishes past Bono to seal the match for Al Malaka.

Emotions are running high, and a melee ensues. One member of the technical bench is sent off, and Yassine Bonou get a yellow.

HIL 1-3 AHL (90+7')

The referee blows his whistle, and Al-Ahli secure a dominant win against nine-men Al-Hilal.

HIL 1-3 AHL (FT)

That's it from us for tonight, folks! Thank you for sticking with us throughout the match, and we hope you enjoyed our coverage of this fixture. From everyone at 바카라, goodbye and goodnight.