Al Hilal ease into Asian Champions League last eight

Saudi giants Al Hilal booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Iran’s Esteghlal on Monday. The 2019 champions struck through Bafetimbi Gomis and Salem al-Dawsari either side of the break in Dubai to become the first team to make the last eight phase of the Covid-19 impacted tournament. The Asian Football Confederation trimmed the knockout stage to just one leg to make up for lost time with the last-16 matches to be completed over three days ending on Wednesday. Al Hilal won the title two years ago but were dramatically kicked out of the tournament last year after several players tested positive for coronavirus.