Al Ittihad downs Al Hilal to reach ACL quarters

Al Ittihad downs Al Hilal to reach ACL quarters

Published May. 24, 2011 6:50 p.m. ET

Al Ittihad eliminated Al Hilal 3-1 in an all-Saudi Arabia clash and progressed to the Asian Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Al Ittihad dominated the clash between the pair of two-time Asian champions, earning a measure of revenge for losing out to its Jeddah rival for the Saudi league title.

Portuguese midfielder Nuno Assis opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he made a perfectly timed run in the box, took a pass from Mohammed Noor and scored. The host doubled its lead two minutes later when Paulo George's cross found Abdelmalik Ziaya.

It became 3-0 just before the hour mark after Assis took a pass in the area and lobbed a shot over onrushing Al Hilal goalkeeper Hasan Al Otaibi.

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Al Hilal got on the board in the 82nd when Abdulaziz Aldawsari curled in a left-footed shot.

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