Neymar back after a year out and helps Al-Hilal in Asian Champions League

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Neymar returned to action after a year out through injury and helped Al-Hilal beat Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates 5-4 in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

Neymar signed for the Saudi Arabia club in August 2023 but played only five times before tearing an anterior cruciate ligament last October. He came off the bench 369 days later for the four-time Asian champion with 13 minutes remaining at Al Ain. He almost scored immediately when his low shot from left of the area shaved the post.

In a thrilling match between Al-Hilal and the defending champion, Renan Lodi gave Al-Hilal the opener after 26 minutes. Soufiane Rahimi, the tournament top scorer last season, leveled soon after.

By the break, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al-Dawsari put Hilal 3-1 ahead.

Mateo Sanabria pulled a goal back just after the hour but Al-Dawsari scored twice more to complete a hat trick, and Rahimi achieved the same feat to make it 5-4.

The win maintained Al-Hilal’s perfect record in Asia after three games.

Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli won at Qatar’s Al-Rayyan 2-1 thanks to goals from Gabri Veiga and Firas Al-Buraikan.

Iraq’s Al-Shorta drew with Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor 0-0, and Qatar’s Al-Sadd defeated Iran’s Persepolis 1-0.

Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo are in action on Tuesday against Esteghlal of Iran. The game was moved from Tehran to Dubai due to the security situation in Iran.

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