Al-Hilal secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Al-Ittihad in the second leg of their Asian Champions League quarterfinal clash on Tuesday, advancing to the semifinals with an impressive 4-0 aggregate scoreline. In addition to their triumph, the Blues achieved a historic feat by setting a new world record for consecutive wins in professional football.
Prior to kickoff in their third encounter within two weeks, dubbed the Classico, Al-Hilal was tied with Welsh side The New Saints for the world record for consecutive victories. The milestone was reached during the 28th consecutive win in Jeddah, establishing Al-Hilal as the undisputed leader in terms of consecutive victories in the history of football.
The victory not only propelled the four-time continental champions into the semifinals but also set up a showdown against Al-Ain from the UAE, who secured their spot after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Al-Nassr.
While the first leg had seen Al-Hilal secure a 2-0 advantage at home, the second leg lacked the same level of drama and excitement. With Al-Ittihad needing a win to overturn the deficit, they started energetically, applying pressure on Al-Hilal's defense from the outset. Romarinho came close to scoring in the 16th minute, striking the post with a powerful shot.
Despite Al-Ittihad's efforts, Al-Hilal remained resolute, with goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais making crucial saves to deny their opponents. Al-Hilal eventually broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Yasser Al-Shahrani converted a well-worked opportunity created by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
With the tie effectively sealed, Al-Hilal maintained control of the game, frustrating Al-Ittihad's attempts to mount a comeback. A late surge from Al-Hilal saw Malcom scoring in injury time to secure a 2-0 victory on the night and a comfortable 4-0 aggregate win.
The match concluded with a subdued exit for Al-Ittihad from the Asian campaign, marked by a red card for Abderrazak Hamdallah and Al-Hilal's continued pursuit of a record fifth Asian title, fueled by their remarkable 28th consecutive win.