RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Darwin Núñez emerged as Al Hilal's savior with a 77th-minute winner, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a resilient Al-Wahda side at King Fahd International Stadium in AFC Champions League Elite action. The Uruguayan striker's second goal of the evening broke Al-Wahda hearts and maintained Al Hilal's momentum in continental competition, though the hosts were made to work far harder than the final scoreline suggests.
The match exploded into life early as both sides demonstrated attacking intent from the opening whistle. Al Hilal threatened first in the 4th minute when Mohamed Meïté's header from the center of the box was smothered by Zayed Ahmed following a dangerous Rúben Neves cross. The early pressure signaled Al Hilal's intentions, but Al-Wahda proved they hadn't traveled merely to defend.
Núñez opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a powerful header from the left side of the six-yard box, meeting Neves' perfectly weighted delivery following a set piece. The goal seemed to settle Al Hilal, who enjoyed the majority of possession at 54%, but Al-Wahda's response demonstrated their quality and determination. Mohammed Al Yami was forced into action repeatedly, denying Jadsom's right-footed effort from distance in the 15th minute before the visitors truly announced themselves.
The equalizer arrived in the 32nd minute through Brahima Diarra, who rose unmarked to head home from the left side of the six-yard box. Omar Khrbin provided the assist with a pinpoint cross following a corner, and suddenly the complexion of the match had shifted entirely. Al-Wahda's clinical edge was evident—they would finish the match having put seven of their ten shots on target, a remarkable 70% conversion rate that kept Al Hilal's defense on constant alert.
Al Yami's heroics between the posts proved decisive in keeping Al Hilal level. The goalkeeper made six saves throughout the contest, including crucial stops from Facundo Kruspzky's long-range effort in the 36th minute and Diarra's difficult-angled attempt in the 69th minute. Despite Al Hilal managing 13 shots, only three troubled Zayed Ahmed, highlighting the hosts' wastefulness in front of goal and the visitors' defensive organization.
The tactical battle intensified after halftime as Al Hilal manager made wholesale changes, introducing Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Hamad Al Yami, and Sultan Mandash in the 61st minute. The substitutions injected fresh energy into Al Hilal's attack, though Al-Wahda continued to threaten on the counter. Yusuf Akçiçek missed a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute, firing wide from outside the box, while Salem Al Dawsari—introduced in the 79th minute—couldn't convert when well-placed in the 80th minute.
The decisive moment arrived with 13 minutes remaining. Mandash, one of the substitutes, turned provider with a clever assist that found Núñez lurking at the left side of the six-yard box. The striker made no mistake, firing his left-footed shot into the top left corner to send the home supporters into raptures. It was a finish befitting the occasion, demonstrating the composure and quality that has made Núñez such a valuable addition to Al Hilal's attacking arsenal.
Al-Wahda refused to surrender, pushing forward desperately in search of another equalizer. Abdulla Hamad came agonizingly close in the 90th minute, his right-footed shot from outside the box requiring another fine save from Al Yami, who palmed the effort to safety with Mobin Dehghan lurking. The four minutes of added time felt like an eternity for Al Hilal, but their defense held firm despite the pressure.
The statistics painted a picture of two evenly-matched sides separated by fine margins. Al Hilal's eight corners to Al-Wahda's four suggested territorial dominance, yet the visitors' superior shot accuracy told a different story. The match turned physical in the closing stages, with Al Hilal committing 17 fouls to Al-Wahda's nine, resulting in three yellow cards for the hosts including bookings for Saïmon Bouabré and Favour Ogbu's caution for Al-Wahda in the 74th minute.
Neves orchestrated proceedings from midfield for Al Hilal, his distribution and set-piece delivery proving instrumental in both goals. His cross for Núñez's opening header set the tone, while his influence throughout the 90 minutes demonstrated why he remains central to Al Hilal's ambitions. For Al-Wahda, Khrbin and Diarra caused constant problems, with their movement and link-up play stretching Al Hilal's backline throughout.
The victory extends Al Hilal's impressive recent form, though the manner of this win—requiring late heroics and exceptional goalkeeping—will provide food for thought. Al-Wahda can take heart from their performance, particularly their clinical finishing and defensive resilience, even in defeat. Their ability to match Al Hilal for long periods suggests they remain a formidable opponent in this competition.
Three points secured, Al Hilal now shift their focus to domestic matters with Al Ittihad arriving on February 19. That fixture promises to be another stern examination of their title credentials, and they'll need to be more clinical than they were here. For Al-Wahda, the challenge is channeling this spirited performance into their next outing, knowing they pushed one of Asia's elite sides to the brink.