Al-Hilal Sets Record With 28 Straight Wins; Saudi Team Advances To Asian Champions League SF

Al-Hilal, a Saudi Arabian club, defeated Al-Ittihad 2-0 to win its 28th consecutive game and advance to the Asian Champions League semifinals on Tuesday, setting a new record for a top-tier team worldwide.

Al-Hilal defeated its local opponent 4-0 on aggregate after winning the opening leg of the quarterfinals by the same score.

The previously acknowledged record of 27 consecutive victories established by The New Saints in the 2016–17 campaign was surpassed by the 18-time Saudi champion. In 1971–72, the Welsh squad defeated the legendary Ajax team, led by Johan Cruyff.

Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus remarked, “Everyone at Al Hilal is delighted to achieve world football history by winning 28 consecutive matches.” “I want to thank everyone at the club for their part in this historic winning record. This is truly an incredible achievement.”

Al Hilal’s outstanding season comes after the club, which was almost nationalized by the Public Investment Fund, a Saudi sovereign wealth organization, spent over 350 million euros ($380 million) on player transfers. Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is in charge of it.

The squad’s most recent defeat came on September 21 in a 1-1 tie with league opponent Damac.

Al-Hilal leads the Saudi Pro League by 12 points and has previously won four titles in Asia.

But as I have said time and time again, records are not as important as trophies, according to Jesus. “Everyone at Al-Hilal has a responsibility to make sure we finish the season as the Roshn Saudi League winners and accomplish our goals in the cup tournaments. That’s when we can really rejoice.

Yasser Al-Shahrani and Brazilian winger Malcom clinched the victory against Al-Ittihad, despite the game’s ending with the dismissal of striker Abderrazak Hamdallah.

In the semifinals in April, Al-Hilal will play Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates. On Monday, Al-Ain defeated Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad in a penalty shootout to eliminate Al-Nassr.

In the eastern zone, Ulsan HD defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-0 in the second leg of an all-South Korean encounter to go to the final four.

Seol Young-woo scored after the first leg finished in a draw, giving Ulsan—the 2020 and 2012 champions—a 2-1 aggregate triumph.

In the semifinals, Ulsan will play either China’s Shandong Taishan or Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos.