Carlos Eduardo scores hat-trick as Al Hilal rout Al Ain

Abu Dhabi - Al Hilal, with their set-pieces, had destroyed Al Ain. And there was another half to play.

Carlos Eduardo fired Al Hilal past Al Ain into the AFC Champions League semis with three wonderful goals at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Monday night. Al Hilal, thus, enter the semis with an aggregate 3-0 after a stalemate in the first leg in Al Ain last month.
Right from the start, Al Hilal had the upper hand.
Eduardo could've set Al Hilal on their way in the sixth minute but the Brazilian's header in the danger area was saved. The high-tempo match saw lot many challenges. For Al Ain, Dyanfres Douglas, Omar Abdulrahman and Marcus Berg had a shy at the goal but all missed to find the target.
While both teams traded chances and it looked heading to a goalless half, Eduardo turned the tables on Al Ain.
It was pathetic defending by Al Ain on a set-piece free-kick taken by Nicolas Milesi. Four Al Hilal players went clear as Al Ain defenders were ball watching and Eduardo placed his header past keeper Khalid Eisa.
And minutes later, tragedy struck again. Al Ain defenders failed to recover from the shock of first goal as Eduardo struck. This time, too, four Al Hilal shirts, unchallenged, were inside the penalty box and it was 2-0 at half time.
Al Hilal, with their set-pieces, had destroyed Al Ain. And there was another half to play.
Following the break, Al Ain did tried to return into the game but Al Hilal's Milesi and star power Omar Kharbin kept pressure on the visitors. And in the 74th minute, it was curtains as Eduardo blasted home on a delivery from Salem Al Dawsari.
Al Ain's Continental dreams end but the match serves as a lesson of task at hand for coach Zoran Mamic in Arabian Gulf League and Cup season at home.
Goals: Al Hilal (3): Carlos Eduardo (42, 45+, 74)
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com