Eduardo hat-trick power Al Hilal into AFC Champions League semi-finals
Riyadh: Carlos Eduardo scored a hat-trick as Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal swept aside UAE’s Al Ain 3-0 in the second leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League quarter-final on Monday.
The two sides went into the second leg at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh level after a goalless draw in Al Ain three weeks ago.
However, Eduardo and Nicolas Milesi combined twice in the final five minutes of the first half with the Brazilian scoring a 42nd minute header from Milesi’s free-kick, then adding his second in added time with a volleyed effort after a dinked pass by the Uruguayan.
Eduardo completed his hat-trick in the 74th minute, finding space behind Al Ain’s defence to convert Salem Al Dawsari’s pass to seal the victory for the home side.
The Brazilian moves level with Al Ain’s Omar Abdulrahman and Shanghai SIPG’s Hulk at the top of the AFC Champions League goal-scoring charts with seven goals to his name, but unlike the 2016 AFC Player of the year, Eduardo will get the chance to add to his tally in the semi-finals as Al Hilal await the winners of the quarter-final between Al Ahli and Persepolis in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
