The Nasaf Qarshi (Uzbekistan) vs. Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) match was played on September 29, 2025, at the Markaziy Stadium in Qarshi, Uzbekistan, as part of Matchday 2 of the Group Stage (West Zone) of the 2025/26 AFC Elite Champions League.
This exciting encounter ended with a 3-2 victory for Al-Hilal, demonstrating their resilience despite having twice conceded the lead on a difficult pitch. The match highlighted Al-Hilal’s attacking depth and Nasaf’s fighting spirit, but a critical error by the goalkeeper proved decisive. Key Events & Scorers
25′ Al-Hilal 1-0 Nasaf: A cross from Abdullah Al-Hamdan led to an own goal by Nasaf goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov. Sergej Milinković-Savić sent the ball over the line after a loose ball from Nematov.
30′ Nasaf 1-1 Al-Hilal: Sardorbek Bakhromov equalized with a stunning long-range shot.
45+2′ Al-Hilal 2-1 Nasaf: Theo Hernández restored the lead with a brilliant solo run, dribbling past five defenders before finishing accurately (his previous goal after 90 seconds was ruled out for offside).
60′ Nasaf 2-2 Al-Hilal: Javokhir Sidikov equalized from a difficult angle, assisted by Umar Eshmurodov. 78′ Al-Hilal 3-2 Nasaf: Marcos Leonardo scored the winning goal, taking advantage of a high pass from Milinković-Savić and beating the goalkeeper.
Al-Hilal dominated possession (62.4%) and chances (16 shots to 5 for Nasaf, 10 on target to 3), winning 7 corners to 0 for Nasaf, although the Nasaf goalkeeper made 7 saves to 1 for Al-Hilal. Al-Hilal received a yellow card.
For Al-Hilal: This victory marked a perfect start to the group stage (2 wins, 6 points), catapulting them to the top of the West Zone standings. This reinforces their status as four-time AFC Champions League champions, with key players such as Milinković-Savić (1 goal, 1 assist), Hernández (1 goal), and Leonardo (1 goal) shining despite injuries.
The result gives them encouragement ahead of the domestic matches and strongly positions them for direct qualification to the round of 16 (the top two from each group advance automatically). However, it exposed their defensive vulnerabilities, with two goals conceded from set pieces and counterattacks.
For Nasaf Qarshi: The defeat leaves them at the bottom of the West Zone with 0 points after two defeats (0-0-2 record). Despite the defeat, his two goals and moments of quality (such as Bakhromov’s stunning strike and Sidikov’s finish) are positive for a team looking to build momentum at home.
Nematov’s error highlighted individual failings, but the performance against a heavyweight like Al-Hilal could boost confidence ahead of the upcoming matches. Nasaf now faces the pressure of picking up points in the remaining group stage matches to avoid an early exit.
The West Zone remains competitive after Matchday 2, with other results including Al-Gharafa al-Shorta’s 2-0 draw, Tractor al-Wahda’s 0-0 draw, and Al-Duhail al-Ahli’s 2-2 draw. Al-Hilal’s victory intensifies the race for the top spots, while Nasaf’s resilience could inspire the underdogs in the zone.
West Zone standings after Matchday 2 (partial, according to available results)
(Note: The standings reflect the league stage format, where all West Zone teams meet once; full details may evolve with more matches.)
Al-Hilal’s hard-fought victory reaffirms their dominance in Asian club football, demonstrating the depth of their squad and key performances from stars like Milinković-Savić and Leonardo, vital to their quest for a fifth title.
The two-legged match (five goals in 53 minutes) was a spectacle, but Nasaf’s errors and lack of precision in finishing cost them dearly against a superior opponent.
For Nasaf, this is a learning curve: their home threat is evident, but consistency is key to salvaging their campaign. Overall, the result tips the scales in Al-Hilal’s favor in the West Zone, making for interesting matchups and reminding everyone that no advantage is guaranteed in this revamped Elite format. X fans praised Al-Hilal’s “quality that came through at the end” and Nasaf’s “something to build on”, capturing the dramatic essence of the match.
