Al Hilal 2-1 Al Wahda Player Ratings: Darwin Núñez Scores Brace to Inspire Close Victory for Hosts | ACL

Al Hilal edged past Al Wahda in a tense and entertaining match at the Kingdom Arena, winning 2-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite. The game remained undecided until the final whistle, as both teams produced a strong contest of contrasting styles.

Al Hilal started brightly and took the lead in the 19th minute. Darwin Nunez scored with a well-taken header after a precise cross from Rúben Neves. The early goal gave the home side confidence, but they were unable to dominate for long.

Al Wahda responded with determination and found an equaliser just after the half-hour mark. Brahima Diarra rose highest from a corner kick to level the score, a goal that reflected their improved spell in the match.

The second half was tight and physical, with frequent stoppages and few clear chances. As the game looked set for a draw, Núñez stepped up once more. His composed finish in the 77th minute proved decisive, securing a hard-fought victory for Al Hilal in this thrilling AFC Champions League Elite clash at the Kingdom Arena. In this article, we'll discuss Al Hilal vs Al Wahda player ratings from the AFC Champions League game.

Key Takeaways

1. Darwin Núñez gave Al Hilal the lead with a header in the 19th minute from Rúben Neves’ cross.
2. Brahima Diarra equalised for Al Wahda with a headed goal from a corner just after the half-hour mark.
3. Núñez struck again in the 77th minute to seal a 2–1 win for Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League Elite

Al Hilal Player Ratings vs Al Wahda

Check out Al Hilal player ratings from the match against Al Wahda:

Goalkeeper

Mohammed Al-Yami - 8.0: A stellar performance from the keeper. He made six saves, some of which were genuinely top-drawer. What stood out to us was his command of the box. He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. His distribution was also sharp, keeping his team moving. A very reliable presence.

Defenders

Yusuf Akçiçek - 7.0: Solid and dependable at the back. He was calm in possession and rarely wasted a pass, as shown by his 85% accuracy. Won all of his duels which is exactly what you want from your defender. He even ventured forward and had a few attempts on goal. A good, all-round defensive shift.

Pablo Marí - 6.0: An average day at the office for Marí. He picked up an early yellow card and seemed a bit on edge after that. He made a few important interventions but was eventually substituted. From our perspective, he never really looked fully comfortable during his time on the pitch.

Ali bin Mohammed bin Ali Lajami - 8.0: What a machine. This guy was an absolute rock. He won an incredible 11 duels and made eight tackles. He read the game like a book, snuffing out danger time and time again. His performance was crucial to keeping Al Wahda's attackers at bay. A truly dominant display.

Midfielders

Rúben Neves - 8.5: The captain led by example. He was the architect of so much of Al Hilal's good play. The assist for the first goal was sublime. He created a staggering nine chances, a testament to his vision. A complete midfield performance, controlling the game's tempo.

Abdulkarim Darisi - 5.5: A difficult night for the midfielder. He was booked early and seemed to struggle with the pace of the game. He gave away a couple of fouls and was hooked after an hour. Not his finest performance by a long shot.

Murad Al-Hawsawi - 6.5: Put in a decent shift but without much to show for it. He was neat on the ball but didn't have a major impact on the proceedings. A functional performance before he was substituted. He did his job without any fuss.

Moteb Al-Harbi - 6.5: Created a big chance and was involved in some nice attacking moves. He provided good width down the flank. However, he was fairly quiet for large spells of the game. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Forwards

Darwin Núñez - 9.5: The highest-rated player on the pitch and the clear man of the match. What can you even say? The man was on another planet tonight. Two goals to win his team the game, a powerful header and a clinical finish. He was a constant menace, a pure force of nature. His performance was the difference.

Saïmon Bouabré - 7.0: An energetic and chaotic performance. He was a nightmare for defenders, drawing a ton of fouls. Yes, he lost the ball a lot, but his intent was always positive and aggressive. He just never stopped running and trying to make things happen. We love to see that kind of spirit.

Kader Meïté - 6.0: A quiet game for the attacker. He really struggled to impose himself on the match. He was on the periphery for most of his time on the field. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Substitutes

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - 6.5: Came on and added some physical presence to the midfield. Had a headed chance go just wide.

Hamad Al Yami - 6.0: Provided fresh legs and helped see out the game.

Sultan Mandash - 7.5: A game-changing substitution. Provided the crucial assist for the winning goal. A fantastic impact from the bench.

Nasser Al Dawsari - 6.0: Slotted in well and helped maintain control in the final stages.

Salem Al Dawsari - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on and had one missed shot.

Manager

S. Inzaghi - 7.5: He'll be a happy man. His substitutions worked wonders, especially bringing on Sultan Mandash. His team showed great character to find a late winner after conceding. A well-managed victory.

Al Wahda Player Ratings vs Al Hilal

Here are Sportsdunia's Al Wahda player ratings from the game against Al Hilal:

Goalkeeper

Zayed Ahmed - 5.5: A night he'll want to forget. He was beaten twice and only made one save. His distribution was particularly poor, which put his team under unnecessary pressure. He looked shaky and lacked confidence.

Defenders

Favour Inyeka Ogbu - 5.5: He was in a real battle and came out second best most of the time. He lost the majority of his duels and was booked. A very tough evening against a top-quality attack. He looked out of his depth at times.

Sasa Ivkovic - 6.0: He was busy, making nine clearances, but it felt like he was constantly firefighting. Part of a defensive unit that looked vulnerable throughout. He worked hard but couldn't stem the tide.

Guga - 6.5: He had his hands full all game. He made a decent number of tackles and clearances but was also dribbled past a couple of times. He was committed to the cause but ultimately on the losing side of his defensive battles.

Bader Abaelaziz - 5.0: Oof. A tough watch. We felt for him, but his error leading to a goal was a massive moment. He just looked off the pace and struggled to cope. A performance he'll need to move on from quickly.

Midfielders

Caio Canedo - 6.5: He put in a shift. He was tenacious, drawing four fouls and using the ball well. He didn't offer a huge creative spark but his work rate was commendable before he was subbed off.

Abdulla Hamad - 7.0: One of Al Wahda's better players. He was strong in the tackle and kept things ticking over in midfield. He even forced a good save late in the game. A very committed and solid performance.

Jadsom - 7.0: A really strong display in the middle of the park. He passed the ball with great accuracy and won most of his duels. An error led to a shot, but that shouldn't overshadow what was otherwise a very composed and effective performance.

Brahima Diarra - 8.0: Al Wahda's standout performer, without a doubt. He scored a fantastic goal to get his team back in the game. His dribbling and direct running caused problems all night. A truly dynamic and impressive showing.

Forwards

Facundo Kruspzky - 5.5: He had a shocker, to be honest. He lost possession an alarming 18 times and was dispossessed constantly. He really struggled to get into the game and made very little impact. A frustrating night for the attacker.

Omar Khribin - 7.5: He was the main creative force for his team. He set up the goal and was at the heart of their best attacking moments. His substitution felt like a big blow to Al Wahda's chances. He was a constant threat.

Substitutes

Abdulqader Abdullah - 6.0: Came on and tried to get involved but the game passed him by.

Bernardo Folha - 6.0: Had little time to make an impact but did set up one chance.

Arnau Pradas - N/A: Came on too late to have any real influence.

Mobin Dehghan - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

D. Milanič - 6.5: His team showed great spirit to equalize. They had a clear game plan to attack through Khribin and Diarra. However, defensive frailties ultimately cost them the game. He'll be disappointed they couldn't hold on for a point.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Darwin Nunez with a brace for Al Hilal.

Worst Performer

Bader Abaelaziz had a bad day on the field.