Al Sharjah vs Al Hilal Player Ratings: Malcom Emerges as Match-Winner as Al Hilal Grind Out 1-0 Win

A moment of brilliance from Malcom was all it took for Al Hilal to snatch a dramatic 1-0 victory against Al Sharjah. The clash in the AFC Champions League Elite was a tense affair between Al Sharjah and Al Hilal. It felt like one of those games destined for a frustrating draw. Al Sharjah were all set to frustrate the visitors, and they nearly succeeded.

The match at Al-Sharjah Stadium was a battle of defensive discipline. Al Hilal dominated the majority of possession as expected. They showered the goal with shots, but found goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani equal to it. He was a wall for most of the match.

Just when it seemed the points would be shared, Malcom netted in the 81st minute. He found space and fired home; his strike broke the deadlock as well as the home side fans' hearts. It was a deserved win for Al Hilal based on the brand of football they played. But Al Sharjah can hold their heads high after a spirited performance that almost earned them a valuable point. Here are Sportsdunia's Al Sharjah vs Al Hilal player ratings.

Al Hilal Player Ratings vs Al Sharjah

Check out the Al Hilal player ratings for the Al Sharjah vs Al Hilal fixture.

Goalkeeper

Mohammed Al-Yami - 8.0: A really solid performance from the keeper. He made six crucial saves to earn his clean sheet. What stood out to us was his confidence under pressure. He commanded his area well, especially from set-pieces. His save from Caio in the second half was a match-defining moment. He was a calm presence throughout.

Defenders

Yusuf Akçiçek - 7.0: A composed and tidy display. He was very comfortable on the ball, boasting a 90% pass accuracy. He wasn't tested to his limits but did everything required of him. From our perspective, he reads the game well, making a key interception and always being in the right position. A mature performance.

Ali bin Hadi bin Mohammed Al Bulayhi - 7.0: The captain led by example before his substitution. He was strong in the tackle and won four of his five duels. He even popped up with a key pass, showing his ability to contribute offensively. His leadership was evident in how he organized the backline. He looked assured until he was withdrawn.

Ali bin Mohammed bin Ali Lajami - 7.0: A rock at the heart of the defense. We noticed his aerial dominance, winning five of his seven aerial battles. He made a massive six clearances, repelling wave after wave of Sharjah attacks. The late yellow card was the only minor blemish on an otherwise excellent defensive showing. He was physically imposing.

Midfielders

Rúben Neves - 8.5: Our man of the match. He completely controlled the tempo of the game from midfield. With 114 touches and five chances created, he was the creative hub. His range of passing, including 16 successful long balls, was a joy to watch. He was simply on another level, dictating play effortlessly. A masterful performance and our highest-rated player.

Theo Hernández - 7.5: A constant menace down the left flank. He was relentless in his forward runs, creating three chances for his teammates. He had four shots himself, always looking to make something happen. Defensively, he was solid too, winning seven of his eleven duels. A very dynamic and impactful performance.

João Cancelo - 6.5: A very mixed performance from him, to be honest. He was heavily involved with 85 touches but was also wasteful, losing possession 19 times. He missed a big chance and his final product was lacking. He worked hard, but it felt like an off-day for him by his high standards.

Abdulelah bin Saad bin Hamid Al Wahbi Al Malki - 6.0: An energetic but slightly reckless display. He drew four fouls, showing his ability to disrupt the opposition. However, he also committed two fouls himself and picked up a yellow card. He struggled to impose himself on the game before being substituted.

Forwards

Darwin Núñez - 7.0: A typically chaotic and hard-working performance. He provided the assist for the winning goal. He won an impressive nine duels, showing his physical prowess. However, he also missed a big chance and lost possession 13 times. A frustrating but ultimately effective outing for the forward.

Marcos Leonardo - 6.5: We were a bit disappointed with his contribution. He was largely anonymous, managing only 13 touches in 83 minutes. He missed a big chance and failed to get into the flow of the game. He's a talented player, but this wasn't his night. We expected more from him.

Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira - 8.0: The hero of the hour. He was a persistent threat throughout the game with six shots. He never stopped trying to find a way through Sharjah's defense. His persistence paid off with a brilliantly taken winning goal. A clinical and decisive performance when it mattered most.

Substitutes

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - 7.0: Made a positive impact after coming on. He almost scored immediately and added a physical presence to the midfield. His introduction gave Hilal more drive.

Kaio César - 6.5: Looked lively in his short cameo. He was direct and caused a few problems for the tired Sharjah defenders.

Abdullah Radif - N/A: Came on late with not enough time to make a significant impact.

Mohammed Al Qahtani - N/A: Not on long enough to warrant a rating.

Manager

S. Inzaghi - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly. He set his team up to dominate, and they did. His substitutions were timely and helped to change the game. He showed patience and his belief in his team's ability to find a winner paid off. A very professional coaching performance.

Al Sharjah Player Ratings vs Al Hilal

Check out the Al Sharjah player ratings for the Al Sharjah vs Al Hilal fixture.

Goalkeeper

Adel Al Hosani - 7.5: He was outstanding and desperately unlucky to be on the losing side. He made six saves, several of which were top-class. He kept his team in the game for so long with his heroics. He deserved a clean sheet for his efforts. A truly brilliant goalkeeping display.

Defenders

Shahin Abdulrahman - 7.0: A true captain's performance. He was a defensive titan, making an incredible 16 clearances. He threw his body on the line time and time again. He led his backline with courage and determination. It was a colossal effort, even in defeat.

Khaled Aldhanhani - 6.5: He had a difficult evening against a potent Hilal attack. He battled hard and made some important tackles and clearances. He even created a big chance going forward. However, he was often stretched and looked vulnerable at times.

Yu-Min Cho - 6.0: A quiet and somewhat shaky performance. He struggled to deal with the physicality of Hilal's forwards, losing three of his four aerial duels. He made a few clearances but looked a bit overwhelmed. Not his best game.

Marcus Meloni - 6.5: A very hard-working performance from the defender. He made an impressive 11 ball recoveries and won eight duels. He was tenacious in the tackle and tried to drive his team forward. A solid if unspectacular outing.

Midfielders

Majid Ibrahim Surour Khamis Salim - 6.0: A battling display in the middle of the park. He made four crucial blocked shots, showing his commitment. However, he also gave away four fouls and picked up a yellow card. His discipline let him down slightly.

Majid Rashid - 6.0: He provided a solid defensive shield in front of the back four. He made two tackles and two interceptions in his 73 minutes. He didn't offer much going forward but did his job effectively. A disciplined but limited performance.

Guilherme Biro - 6.5: He was everywhere. He made an impressive five tackles, showing his defensive work rate. However, his use of the ball was sometimes poor and he picked up a needless yellow card. A tireless but frustrating performance to watch.

Igor Coronado - 6.5: He tried to be the creative spark for Sharjah but struggled. He lost possession 16 times, which was far too many. He drew three fouls and looked threatening in moments. His frustration was evident with his late booking.

Ousmane Camara - 5.5: A really disappointing performance. He struggled to make any impact on the game. Winning only 30% of his aerial duels against a strong defense tells its own story. He was rightly substituted after a very quiet 73 minutes.

Forwards

Caio - 7.0: He looked like Sharjah's most dangerous player. He had two shots on target and was a constant nuisance. His advanced runs were a problem for the Hilal defense. However, being caught offside four times was incredibly frustrating and killed several promising attacks.

Substitutes

Gerónimo Poblete - N/A: Came on late, not much time to influence the game.

Saúl Guarirapa - N/A: Didn't have enough time to warrant a rating.

David Petrovic - N/A: A very late substitute.

Firas Ben Arbi - N/A: Introduced too late to make an impact.

Feta Fetai - N/A: An injury-time replacement.

Manager

M. Milojevic - 7.0: His tactical plan was almost perfect. He set his team up to be compact, disciplined, and hard to beat. They frustrated a top-quality side for 81 minutes. He can be proud of his team's organization and effort. They were just undone by a moment of individual quality.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Rúben Neves