Hong Kong: Arab News
Korean striker Yoo Byung-soo scored four goals as Al-Hilal emphatically beat Baniyas 7-1 to join fellow Saudi Professional League sides Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League alongside Iran’s Sepahan.
Yoo scored twice in each half at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh with Christian Wilhelmsson providing all four assists, while the Swedish midfielder also found the net twice as Group D winner Hilal maintained its unbeaten record in the competition.
And with two-time winners Ittihad beating Piroozi 3-0 after Saudi Pro League runner-up Ahli had edged out Al Jazira 4-2 on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia will be well represented in next month’s draw for September’s quarterfinals.
Iran Pro League champions Sepahan complete the West side of the draw after beating domestic rivals Esteghlal 2-0 on Tuesday, with the four representatives from the East set to be decided next week ahead of the June 14 draw in Kuala Lumpur.
“The team had a superb performance tonight,” said Al Hilal coach Ivan Hasek.
“They are heroes and they had a great performance coupled with a big win which they deserved and they enjoyed their performance in the game.” Tournament debutants Baniyas had previously only conceded two goals in the Group Stage, but Francisco Yeste’s penalty just before the hour mark turned out to be scant consolation as the UAE Pro League side simply had no answers against the 2010 semifinalists.
“It is a heavy defeat and honestly we didn’t expect it,” said Baniyas’ former Al Hilal coach Gabriel Calderon.
“We tried our best to make a good comeback but unfortunately Al Hilal were at their best and they managed to score more goals.” Also on Wednesday, Ittihad secured its passage into the quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons as Naif Hazazi, Faouzi Abdelghni and Abdoh Autef scored to down Piroozi in Jeddah.
“Despite the good result that we had, it was not an easy match for us,” said Ittihad coach Raul Caneda.
“We had a good performance in the first half which we finished with a two goal lead before securing the win late in the second half.” The Round of 16 had begun in emphatic style on Tuesday as Brazilian striker Victor Simoes scored the equalizer with two minutes remaining in extra-time before converting the winning penalty as Ahli edged out Jazira.
Ricardo Oliveira’s tournament leading 12th goal of the campaign with six minutes remaining in extra-time appeared to have handed UAE Pro League side and previously unbeaten Group A winner Jazira a sixth win in seven games in the competition after the Brazilian had earlier canceled out Marcelo Camacho’s opener in the first half.
But after substitute Amad Al Hosni hit back for Al Ahli with 15 minutes remaining in normal time following Matias Delgado’s strike just after the hour mark, Simoes netted the dramatic equalizer before sealing the victory after both Oliveira and Lucas Neill missed for Al Jazira in the shootout.
“We knew that they have a strong attack but at the same time they are not good on the defensive side and we used this to get back into the game more than once,” said Ahli coach Karel Jarolim.
“We were lucky in the penalty shootout and I want to congratulate the players and our fans with what we did tonight especially after the long and tiring season and hopefully we can continue our good performances in the competition.”
Finally, Iranian champion Sepahan secured a place in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row after first half goals by Bruno Cesar Correa and Mohsen Bengar were enough to see of play-off winners Esteghlal.
“We proved that we are the best team in Iran,” said Sepahan coach Zlatko Krancjar.
“As well as proving that we were the dominant and better side, we also showed that we can play good football against a strong team like Esteghlal.” The last 16 of the AFC Champions League continues next week as Australia’s Adelaide United entertains Japan’s Nagoya Grampus, 2010 champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma faces Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor, Emperor’s Cup winners FC Tokyo travels to take on Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, while Ulsan Hyundai hosts J.League champion Kashiwa Reysol.
Free-scoring Hilal headlines Saudi contingent at AFC quarters
