Pitso Mosimane’s Esteghlal suffered their third straight defeat under his leadership, falling 3-0 to Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League. The match, held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, saw former Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic net a hat-trick, leading Al Hilal to their fourth consecutive victory in the tournament. Brazilian star Neymar, returning from injury, made a second-half appearance, while Mosimane responded by subbing in forward Arman Ramezani. However, Mitrovic scored again in the 74th minute, securing a decisive win for the Saudi champions.
This defeat marks Esteghlal’s fifth consecutive loss across competitions, leaving them in seventh place in the AFC Champions League west region standings, with only three points from four matches. They currently sit in 14th place in the Iranian Gulf Pro League, just a point above relegation, making the upcoming league match against Mes Rafsanjan a crucial opportunity for Mosimane’s team to improve their standings. A win could push Esteghlal up to 10th place, provided other results align in their favor.
