Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Hilal endured their first loss of the Asian Champions League Elite season, falling 1-0 to Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor in their last-16 first-leg clash on Tuesday.
The four-time champions had cruised through the group stage as the West region’s top team, securing seven wins and a draw. However, they struggled in the freezing conditions of Tashkent, where Pakhtakor capitalised on home advantage.
Brazilian forward Flamarion broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, slotting past Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to give the hosts a deserved lead at JAR Stadium.
Al Hilal, semi-finalists last year, pushed for an equaliser but failed to break down a resilient Pakhtakor defence. Their attack was further weakened by the continued absence of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, sidelined since early January with injury.
The Riyadh club, who last lifted the trophy in 2021, will look to overturn the deficit in the return leg at home next week.
Meanwhile, fellow Saudi side Al Ahli secured a convincing 3-1 victory against Al Rayyan in Qatar. Goals from Galeno, Riyad Mahrez, and Firas Al-Buraikan put the Jeddah club in control ahead of the second leg.
Mahrez, formerly of Manchester City, now boasts six goals and seven assists in this season’s tournament. Despite a stunning goal from Roger Guedes for Al Rayyan, the hosts’ hopes were dented when Adam Bareiro saw red after a VAR review.
Al Ahli will host the return leg in Jeddah on March 11.
Elsewhere, last season’s runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos edged Shanghai Port 1-0 in China, while Thailand’s Buriram United were held to a goalless draw by Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim.
