# Al-Shamal vs Al-Hilal 3-1: Inzaghi's rotated side suffer first ACL Elite league-stage defeat in Qatar

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/sports/al-shamal-vs-al-hilal-3-1-inzaghis-rotated-side-suffer-first-acl-elite-league)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 28 Oct 2026
Updated: 28 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 28 Oct 2026

> Wesley Said, Baghdad Bounedjah and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane scored at Al-Bayt Stadium as Al-Shamal won for the first time in the competition.

**Al-Shamal vs Al-Hilal** finished 3-1 to the Qatari side on Tuesday night at Al-Bayt Stadium, handing Simone Inzaghi's Al-Hilal their first league-stage defeat since the AFC Champions League Elite format began in 2024-25, [Arab News reported](https://www.arabnews.com/football/al-hilal-crushed-by-al-shamal-as-qatari-side-claim-first-ever-acl-elite-victory-3008586). It was also Al-Shamal's first win in the competition after two draws.

## The goals

| Minute | Goal |
|---|---|
| 8 | Wesley Said, Al-Shamal 1-0 |
| 32 | Salem Al-Dawsari, 1-1 |
| 48 | Baghdad Bounedjah, Al-Shamal 2-1 |
| 54 | Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Al-Shamal 3-1 |

Al-Shamal went ahead early through Wesley Said. Al-Dawsari, making his first start since Saudi Arabia's last World Cup group game against Cape Verde, levelled before half-time. Former Algeria striker Bounedjah restored the lead three minutes after the restart and Ben Romdhane made it 3-1 from a set piece soon after.

## A rotated Al-Hilal side

Inzaghi changed most of his team for the West League Stage matchday 3 game. Mohammed Al-Owais started in goal in place of Yassine Bounou, behind a back three of Ali Lajami, Yusuf Akcicek and Moteb Al-Harbi, with Murad Hawsawi and Mohammed Kanno in midfield and Mohamed Kader Meite leading the attack. Before the match, Inzaghi had said: "Everyone will get their chance to participate and add value to the team."

The gamble did not pay off. Al-Hilal went top of the Saudi Pro League with a 3-2 win at Al-Qadsiah last week ([our report](/news/sports/al-qadsiah-vs-al-hilal-2-3-neves-and-milinkovic-savic-send-al-hilal-top-of-the)), but in Asia they now trail the two clubs with perfect starts, Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai and Al-Ain.

## What comes next

- **Al-Hilal vs Shabab Al-Ahli**, Riyadh, 3 November: a direct meeting with one of the group leaders.
- **Esteghlal vs Al-Shamal** is the Qatari club's next game.

With most of the league stage still to play, one defeat is far from fatal, but the home game against Shabab Al-Ahli now carries more weight.

## Why it matters here

Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Hilal are among the most followed clubs in the Gulf. If you send money home from the kingdom, our [riyal to rupee page](/data/sar-pkr) shows today's rate and its history, and the [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter) works out any amount.

## Frequently asked questions

**What was the Al-Shamal vs Al-Hilal score?**

Al-Shamal won 3-1 at Al-Bayt Stadium in the AFC Champions League Elite on 27 October 2026.

**When do Al-Hilal play next in the ACL Elite?**

Al-Hilal host Shabab Al-Ahli in Riyadh on 3 November.

## Sources

- Al-Hilal crushed by Al-Shamal as Qatari side claim first-ever ACL Elite victory (Arab News): https://www.arabnews.com/football/al-hilal-crushed-by-al-shamal-as-qatari-side-claim-first-ever-acl-elite-victory-3008586

How to cite: "Al-Shamal vs Al-Hilal 3-1: Inzaghi's rotated side suffer first ACL Elite league-stage defeat in Qatar", Searchable, 28 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/sports/al-shamal-vs-al-hilal-3-1-inzaghis-rotated-side-suffer-first-acl-elite-league