Al Hilal march into last 16

Al Hilal beat Uzbek side Lokomotiv 2-1 thanks to goals from Nawaf Al Abid and Abdulla Al to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League, with a game to spare, in Tashkent on Tuesday.

West The first-half had few chances but the second half was a different story completely.

Salem Al Dawsari had the first effort on goal in the opening five minutes as the midfielder hammered a 25-yard shot that went narrowly over Mamur Ikramov's crossbar.

Most of the first-half was a battle between the two midfields with neither coming out on top.

Al Dawsari did have another attempt from range but Al Hilal keeper Khalid Sharahili saved easily.

Al Hilal came close towards the end of the half when Kariri steered a close-range shot wide from six-yards out.

After 12 minutes into the second half, the Saudi giants had the lead. Thiago Neves' delicate chip from just inside the area ricocheted off Ikramov's crossbar to land at the feet of Al Abid who fired home into the unguarded net.

Al Dossary doubled the lead in the 73rd minute when he scored with a shot past Ikramov after getting a quality pass from Al Abid.

Lokomotiv pulled a goal back in the 95th minute when Abdukholikov scored with a shot after receiving a loose ball near the penalty spot.

The goal was the last action of the tie as Al Hilal secured their place in the Round of 16 for a seventh consecutive season.