Match Report
The table read 4th (Istiqlol Dushanbe, 3 pts) against 1st (Al Hilal, 13 pts), 10 points apart. On recent form Istiqlol Dushanbe sat only 31st league-wide over the last five rounds, well short of their 4th overall. Against a league average of 1.46 goals per team per game, Istiqlol Dushanbe ran at 0.83 scored and 1.67 conceded, Al Hilal at 1.83 and 0.83.
Istiqlol Dushanbe had lost three in a row. Al Hilal entered with seven wins in a row, having scored in 7 consecutive games. The last-five ledger: Istiqlol Dushanbe 6/15, Al Hilal 15/15.
Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 27,000. On the scoreboard, Istiqlol Dushanbe led 2-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 0-3.
Goal scorers
Al Hilal: Odion Ighalo (8'), Odion Ighalo (33'), Salem Al-Dawsari (90')
Key stats
Possession: Istiqlol Dushanbe 24% · Al Hilal 76% · Total shots: 3-19 · On target: 0-7 · Corners: 1-3