(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Goals from Abderrazaq Hamdalla and Rodrigo Tabata handed Al Rayyan their first win of the 2018 AFC Champions League as they defeated Al Hilal 2-1 in Matchday Four yesterday.
As a quiet first half drew to a close, the hosts found a breakthrough just one minute before half time.
Hamdalla was brought down in the six-yard box by defender Abdullah Al Zori and the Moroccan forward stepped up and converted from the spot to hand Al Rayyan a valuable lead heading into the break.
Al Hilal had a chance to snatch an equaliser through Yasser Al Qahtani's header after the onrushing goalkeeper failed to clear the ball, but Al Qahtani saw his attempt blocked by defender Gonzalo Viera.
While Al Hilal struggled to produce meaningful attacks, Al Rayyan doubled their lead after Hamdalla broke free on the counter and produced a pass to Captain Tabata who was afforded too much space and fired a shot at the heart of Ali Al Habsi's net in the 66th minute to put his side's victory beyond doubt.
The visitors got their consolation goal in the 89th minute after Ahmed Yasser fouled Achraf Bencharki in the box and Al Qahtani drove home the resulting penalty kick.
Both teams have away fixtures on Matchday Five as Al Hilal face Emirati side Al Ain, while Al Rayyan travel to Tehran to face Esteghlal.
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