**Al Hilal Vs Esteghlal: Mitrovic Hattrick, Neymar Terpaksa Keluar**

Sherly

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Post on Nov 05, 2024

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Al Hilal Dominates Esteghlal with Mitrovic Hattrick, Neymar Forced Off

Al Hilal cruised to a convincing 4-1 victory over Esteghlal in a thrilling AFC Champions League clash, with Aleksandar Mitrovic bagging a hat-trick and Neymar forced off with an injury.

The Saudi Arabian giants started the match on fire, dominating possession and creating numerous chances in the opening stages. Mitrovic opened the scoring in the 15th minute, finishing off a beautiful team move with a clinical strike. The Serbian striker then doubled his tally just before halftime, this time heading home a pinpoint cross from Salem Al-Dawsari.

Esteghlal, struggling to contain the rampant Al Hilal attack, managed to pull one goal back in the 58th minute through a well-taken free-kick by Mehdi Ghayedi. However, their hopes of a comeback were dashed just two minutes later when Mitrovic completed his hat-trick with a powerful header from close range.

Neymar, who made his Al Hilal debut in this match, was forced off the pitch in the 70th minute after sustaining a seemingly serious ankle injury. The Brazilian superstar was clearly in pain and required immediate medical attention.

The final nail in the coffin for Esteghlal came in the 85th minute when Al Hilal's new signing, Malcom, slotted home a deflected shot to seal a comfortable victory.

Here's a breakdown of the key talking points from the match:

• Mitrovic's Hattrick: The Serbian striker was in top form, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess with a clinical performance. His movement, finishing, and aerial ability were on full display.
• Neymar's Injury: This is a major blow for Al Hilal and Neymar himself. The Brazilian superstar will be hoping for a quick recovery, but the severity of the injury remains unclear.
• Al Hilal's Dominance: The Saudi Arabian champions showed their strength and depth with a commanding performance. Their attacking prowess, combined with a solid defensive structure, makes them a formidable force in the competition.
• Esteghlal's Disappointment: The Iranian side, who were hoping to upset their hosts, were simply outclassed. They struggled to cope with Al Hilal's intensity and lacked a cutting edge in attack.

Al Hilal's impressive start to the AFC Champions League campaign puts them in a strong position to progress to the knockout stages. The team will be hoping that Neymar's injury isn't too serious, as he's a key player for their aspirations this season. Meanwhile, Esteghlal will need to regroup and improve their performance if they are to challenge for a place in the next round.