Odion Ighalo hits four as Al Hilal clinch AFC Champions League final spot

Former Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo was on the scoresheet four times as Al Hilal thrashed Al Duhail 7-0 in the semifinal of the AFC Champions League

The Nigerian returned to the starting eleven after he missed Al Hilal’s previous game against Foolad.

Ighalo was one of the three goal scorers and was joined by Malian Moussa Marega and Saudi Arabia World Cup hero Salem Al-Dawsari as Al Hilal showed their superiority over their Qatari hosts.

Al Hilal got off to a great start as Ighalo broke the dealock less than two minutes into the game and registered his second after only 10 minutes to set the tone for the match.

Then Moussa Marega added two more for Al Hilal to make it 4-0 in the 28th minute with their goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf registering an assist. Al Dawsari wrap up the first-half scoring spree in the 38th minute to give Al Hilal a five-goal lead.

The onslaught continued in the second half with Ighalo registering his hat trick just three minutes after the restart whistle before adding his fourth of the game in the 62nd minute to complete the rout make it seven for Al Hilal.

The victory means that Al Hilal will now face 2007 and 2017 AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds in the final to be held over two legs on April 29. and May 6th.

Urawa Red Diamonds are familiar foes who they beat in the AFC Champions League final in 2019 and lost to in the 2017 final.

Al Hilal now have the chance to become the first team to successfully defend the AFC Champions League since Al Itiihad did so in 2005.