March 13, (THEWILL)- Saudi giants Al Hilal secured a historic 28th consecutive win in all competitions, setting a new world record as they progressed to the Asian Champions League semi-finals. Their 2-0 victory over domestic rivals Al Ittihad on Tuesday, sealed a 4-0 aggregate success in the prestigious continental tournament.
Yasser Al-Shahrani broke the deadlock in the 61st minute before Malcom’s late strike capped an impressive performance from Jorge Jesus’ side. Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais starred for Al Hilal, denying Al Ittihad on numerous occasions as the visitors chased an improbable comeback following a 2-0 first-leg deficit.
The result surpasses the previous world record of 27 consecutive wins set by Welsh club The New Saints in 2016/2017. Before that, Ajax Amsterdam held the record with 26 straight victories between 1971 and 1972. Al Hilal’s extraordinary run began on 25th September 2023.
Manager Jesus remained grounded despite the historic achievement, insisting trophies remain the ultimate goal. “Everyone at Al Hilal is delighted, but records do not matter as much as trophies”, he stated. “It is up to us to ensure we win the Saudi Pro League and meet our targets in the cup competitions.”
In the East, South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai defeated compatriots Jeonbuk Motors 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) to book a semi-final spot. They await the winner of Yokohama F Marinos vs Shandong Taishan after the Japanese side took a 2-1 first-leg lead.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
