Al Duhail’s Edmilson Junior (right) vies for the ball during the match.
Doha, Qatar: Al Duhail SC suffered their first defeat in the Gulf Club Champions League after Saudi Arabia’s Neom handed them a 3-0 loss in a Group A match at Al-Watani Club Stadium in Tabuk yesterday. Saeed Benrahma scored twice, finding the net in the fourth and 87th minutes, while Abdulmalik Al-Ayiri added another goal in the 11th minute as Neom secured a convincing victory.
The result lifted Neom to six points, level with Al Duhail, who had opened their campaign with successive victories over Oman’s Al Shabab and Yemen’s Shaab Hadramout. Al Duhail, coached by Djamel Belmadi, struggled to produce their usual performance as Neom took control of the contest.
Benrahma gave the Saudi side an early lead in the fourth minute before Al-Ayiri doubled their advantage seven minutes later, leaving Al Duhail with an uphill task. The Qatari side failed to find a response as Neom maintained their control, with Benrahma completing his brace three minutes from time to seal the victory.
