Pride restored and second place seized: Al-Hilal hand Shabab Al-Ahli their first Asian defeat

An important win for "the Captain"

Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia restored their standing at continental level, handing Shabab Al-Ahli of the UAE their first defeat of this season's AFC Champions League Elite.

The Saudi side beat Shabab Al-Ahli 2-0 on Tuesday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, in the fourth round of the league stage.

Ollie Watkins struck inside six minutes. The English striker latched onto a pass from Senegalese team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly and placed the ball into the net.

Italian boss Simone Inzaghi then found himself in trouble, forced into two substitutions inside the first 34 minutes.

His first change came in the 28th minute. Inzaghi brought on right-back Mohamed Mahzari for compatriot Sabri Dahl, who had shown no signs of injury.

Six minutes later, the Italian had to send on Nasser Al-Dawsari in place of Frenchman Saimon Bouabre, who picked up an injury while surging forward with the ball in midfield.

None of it slowed Al-Hilal down. Watkins grabbed his second and his side's second a minute into the second half, turning a cross from Turkish defender Yusuf Akcicek into the net.

The win put Al-Hilal back on track in the AFC Champions League Elite after their surprise 3-1 defeat to Al-Shamal of Qatar last time out.

Three points lifted their tally to nine, enough for second in the West group and three behind leaders Al-Ain on 12.

Shabab Al-Ahli, meanwhile, tasted defeat for the first time in this season's tournament. They stay on nine points, down in fourth in the West group.