Al-Hilal defeats Al-Wahda with a brace from Nunez and tops the AFC Champions League
Al-Hilal continued their dominance over their rivals and reaffirmed their absolute supremacy in Asian competitions, maintaining their lead in the West Zone of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League. This came after a well-deserved 2-1 victory over their Emirati visitors, Al-Wahda, in a highly anticipated match held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, as part of the eighth and final round of the group stage.
Details of the victory night at Kingdom Arena
The match was exciting from the start, with Al-Hilal showing a clear desire to settle things early, despite the coaching staff's decision to rest some key players such as captain Salem Al-Dawsari and Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. This determination was evident when Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez opened the scoring in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a perfectly placed cross from Portuguese star Rúben Neves, heading it into the net and sparking the first celebrations among the Al-Hilal fans.
The visitors did not give up easily, as the Emirati Al Wahda team managed to get back into the game, taking advantage of a corner kick taken by the Syrian striker Omar Kharbin, with player Brahima Diarra rising to head it into the Al Hilal net, announcing the equalizer in the 32nd minute, ending the first half with a balanced score and strong performance from both sides.
The decisive moment came in the second half, thanks to Nunez's brilliance
In the second half, Al-Zaeem intensified their attacks to break through Al-Wahda's defense, and the continuous pressure resulted in the decisive winning goal in the 77th minute. The goal came from a wonderful tactical sequence that started with the Serbian Savic, who passed a short ball to substitute Sultan Mandash, who then played a low, creeping cross towards the far post, where Darwin Nunez was there to score his second personal goal and give his team the three points.
The context of the championship and the importance of being in first place
This match is particularly significant as it comes in the newly revamped AFC Champions League, which features fierce competition among the continent's top clubs. Al-Hilal's current tally of 22 points (from 7 wins and 1 draw) reflects the team's technical and physical readiness to compete for the continental title, as Al-Hilal is historically one of the most decorated clubs and a frequent finalist in Asian competitions.
With this result, Al Hilal secured their qualification as group winners, giving them the advantage of facing the eighth-placed team in the Round of 16, thus boosting their chances of progressing towards the title. Meanwhile, despite the loss, Al Wahda of the UAE put on a commendable performance, remaining on 14 points in fourth place, a position that also qualifies them for the next stage, highlighting the development of Emirati football and its strong presence in continental competitions.
