Al Hilal see off Al Ahli to keep campaign on track

First female match commissioners named for Asian qualifiers

HONG KONG, Aug 14, (RTRS): Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal kept alive their hopes of a third Asian Champion League final appearance in six seasons as they advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2019 competition despite losing to domestic rivals Al Ahli.

A 1-0 loss against the club from Jeddah, who won courtesy of a goal from Abdulfatah Asiri, was not enough to deny Al Hilal a 4-3 aggregate win.

The Riyadh-based side now face two-time champions Al Ittihad in another all-Saudi encounter.

Xavi Hernandez’s Al Sadd also advanced after seeing off the challenge of fellow Qatari club Al Duhail, with a 3-1 win that gave the Spanish World Cup winner’s team a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Goals from Akram Afif and Asian Player of the Year Abdelkarim Hassan put Al Sadd two goals up inside the first 34 minutes.

Edmilson halved the deficit early in the second half before Ahmed Yasser’s injury time own goal secured Al Sadd’s progress.

The 2011 champions, who were the last team from the west of the continent to win the Asian title, will take on Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia in the last eight.

The club from Riyadh completed a 4-3 aggregate win over Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates following a 3-2 second leg victory on Monday.

Al Ittihad, meanwhile, set up their last eight meeting with bitter rivals Al Hilal as a result of a 4-3 win over Iran’s Zob Ahan on Monday that sealed a 6-4 aggregate victory.

The first leg of Al Nassr’s meeting with Al Sadd will be played in Riyadh on Aug 26, with the return on Sept 16 in Doha, while the clashes featuring Al Ittihad and Al Hilal will be held on Aug 27 and Sept 17.

The quarter-finals in the east of the continent see China’s Shanghai SIPG face Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds while two-times winners Guangzhou Evergrande of China face defending champions Kashima Antlers from Japan.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kim Se-in will become the first female match commissioner to take charge of an Asian World Cup men’s qualification second round tie when Guam play Maldives next month, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Celtic’s Michael Johnston (left), and Cluj’s Ciprian Deac battle for the ball during the Champions League third qualifying round, second leg, soccer match between Celtic and CFR Cluj at Celtic Park in Glasgow,

Scotland on Aug 13. (AP)

said on Wednesday.

Match commissioners are the official representatives of a governing body at a game and are responsible for ensuring that the match is properly organised and runs smoothly.

Three more female match commissioners – Vietnam’s Nguyen Thanh Ha, Hong Kong’s Lau Cheuk Chi and Kanya Keomany of Laos – have also been appointed for Asian qualifying matches for the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup China.

“The Asian football family is proud to have four female match commissioners appointed to manage the Asian Qualifiers,” AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said in a statement.

“The AFC values the contribution of women in the sport and we will continue to support women in the workforce.” Kim said she was surprised and proud to be named the first female match commissioner for men’s soccer from South Korea.

“I have experience of being a match commissioner in women’s competition, but I can expect a big difference between a men’s and women’s tournament in terms of size and scale so I’m excited with this opportunity,” she added.

“I’ve surpassed my expectations and it is great to see other women going for the match commissioner exams this year.

“People need to believe that it doesn’t matter if you are female or male – you just need the proper talent and knowledge to be selected for a job.”