Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal secured a dominant 7-0 victory over South Korea’s Guangzhou in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals on Friday, booking their place in the semifinals in spectacular fashion. The match, held at Al-Inma Stadium, saw the Blue Waves deliver a historic performance, equaling their biggest-ever win in the competition and setting multiple records.
Historic Achievement
Al-Hilal advanced to the semifinals for the fourth consecutive time and the ninth time in their illustrious history. They now await the winner of the clash between Saudi rivals Al-Ahli and Thailand’s Buriram United, who face off on Saturday in Jeddah.
Record-Breaking Victory
1. Matching Their Biggest Asian Win
The 7-0 triumph equals Al-Hilal’s largest margin of victory in the AFC Champions League Elite, previously achieved against Qatar’s Al-Duhail in February 2023 (semifinals) and UAE’s Baniyas in 2012 (round of 16).
2. Revenge Against Korean Opposition
The win also served as redemption for Al-Hilal, who suffered a painful 0-4 defeat to South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai in the 2012 quarterfinals—their first-ever loss to a Korean side in the competition.
3. Korea’s Worst Defeat in AFC History
Guangzhou’s crushing loss marks the heaviest defeat for any South Korean club in the AFC Champions League since its inception in 2002-03. No Korean team had ever lost by more than five goals—previously, the worst results were 0-5 defeats, including Seongnam’s loss to Saudi’s Al-Ittihad in the 2004 final.
4. Jorge Jesus’ Second-Biggest Win with Al-Hilal
Under Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus, Al-Hilal replicated their second-largest victory (7-0), a scoreline they also achieved against Abha in the Saudi Pro League last December. Their biggest win under Jesus remains a 9-0 thrashing of Al-Dera in the 2019 King’s Cup.
With momentum on their side, Al-Hilal now sets their sights on the semifinals, aiming to continue their dominant run in the tournament. Their next opponent will be determined after Al-Ahli and Buriram United’s showdown, setting the stage for another high-stakes clash in Asian football.
