Inzaghi makes two early changes as Al-Hilal face Shabab Al Ahli

Al-Hilal were forced into an unusual sequence of events during their AFC Champions League Elite meeting with Shabab Al Ahli, with manager Simone Inzaghi making two substitutions inside the opening 34 minutes.

The Saudi club hosted Shabab Al Ahli at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Tuesday in the fourth round of the competition’s league phase.

Inzaghi made his first change after 28 minutes, bringing on right-back Mohamed Mahzari for fellow Saudi defender Sabri Dahal. Dahal had not appeared to be suffering from an injury before being withdrawn.

The Italian coach was required to make another alteration six minutes later when Simon Bouabre was injured while carrying the ball through midfield. Nasser Al-Dawsari came on in place of the French player.

The substitutions came during a lively opening to the match, which Al-Hilal began positively. The hosts took the lead after only six minutes when England forward Ollie Watkins found the net.

The early changes gave the match an unexpected dimension for Al-Hilal, who had already had to use two substitutes before the first half had reached its midpoint. While the first alteration was not linked to any apparent injury, Bouabre’s replacement followed a clear problem during play.

Al-Hilal’s meeting with Shabab Al Ahli was part of the fourth round of the league stage in Asia’s elite club competition, with the Saudi side playing in front of their home supporters at Kingdom Arena.