Salem Al-Dawsari moved closer to two major scoring records in the AFC Champions League Elite after scoring in Al-Hilal’s 3-1 defeat by Al Shamal.
The Al-Hilal captain opened the scoring in the 32nd minute of Tuesday’s match at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, but Al Shamal recovered to claim victory in the third round of the league phase.
Al-Dawsari was presented with a simple finish after French full-back Theo Hernandez sent a low cross into the area, where the forward was able to score into an unguarded net.
The goal took Al-Dawsari’s total in the competition to 36, leaving him one behind retired South Korea international Lee Dong-gook, who is the tournament’s second-highest scorer of all time.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya, Al-Dawsari is also closing in on becoming the leading scorer in the AFC Champions League since its current format was introduced in 2003.
He needs six more goals to equal the record of Montenegro international Dejan Damjanovic, who scored 42 goals in the competition’s modern format.
Known as “The Tornado”, Al-Dawsari’s goal was his first of the current season. It also came in his first start of the campaign, after he had previously made brief substitute appearances in two Saudi Pro League matches.
The result left Al-Hilal beaten by three goals to one in a match in which their captain had initially put them ahead, while Al-Dawsari’s personal milestones remain within reach as the Asian competition continues.
