Qatar's Al Shamal claimed a 3-1 win over Al Hilal at Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday 27 October, handing the understrength Saudi Pro League leaders their first loss in the western league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite. Wesley Said gave the home side the lead in the eighth minute with a low strike into the bottom corner, before Al Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari cancelled it out 24 minutes later, finishing a counterattack powered by Theo Hernandez's driving run down the left. Second-half goals from Baghdad Bounedjah and Mohamed Ben Romdhane sealed the points for David Prats' side.

Mahrez decides it after the break

The match turned on Riyad Mahrez. The 35-year-old, who signed for Al Shamal as a free agent on 14 October after leaving Al Ahli, set up both second-half goals in only his second start for the club: three minutes after the restart he crossed low for his Algeria team-mate Bounedjah, and Ben Romdhane made it 3-1 in the 54th minute, again from a Mahrez delivery. Mahrez also headed against the post. Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi was without midfielders Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, while Gabriel Martinelli was injured and Crysencio Summerville suspended, and Inzaghi blamed tired legs after a fine first half faded.

An understrength Hilal, a debutant upset

The result leaves Al Hilal on six points while Al Shamal move up to five, having drawn their opening two matches, in their first season in the competition. Elsewhere in the west, Shabab Al-Ahli continued their winning run with a 2-0 victory over Esteghlal in Dubai, ending the Iranian side's unbeaten start and climbing into second place behind compatriots Al-Ain, with both teams on nine points. The top eight finishers in each 16-team league, in east and west Asia, progress to the knockout rounds, with the quarter-finals, semi-final and final played in Saudi Arabia in April and May.

Sources: Reuters and SportsAdda.