Brazilian superstar Neymar returned to action on Monday after more than a year’s absence. The Al Hilal striker came on as a second-half substitute in a thrilling 5-4 win over Asian champions Al Ain in the UAE.
The 32-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker has not played since suffering a torn meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty last October.
After surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation period, Neymar became the country’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 games.
He was on Hilal’s bench for the first time since injury, coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute of the Asian Champions’ match at a packed Hazzan Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
At this point, the four-time record Asian champions and current leaders of the Saudi Pro League were leading 5-3 thanks to goals from Renan Lodi and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and a hat-trick from Salem Al Dawsari.
Neymar cannot be registered in Saudi Arabia’s top league until January.
On Monday, Hilal took the lead in the 26th minute when former Newcastle United and Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic played in Lodi’s left wing and the ex-Atletico Madrid full-back fired a low shot past Khalid Essa and into Al Ain’s goal.
But Hernan Crespo’s side equalised six minutes before half-time when Moroccan international Soufian Rahimi crossed into the goal.
Rahimi was the key player in Al Ain’s Asian Champions League success last season. He was named the tournament’s top scorer and best player.
In added time of first half-time, Hilal looked to have stolen the game away from their UAE rivals.
First, Joao Cancelo, who signed from Manchester City in the summer, crossed for Milinkovic-Savic, who headed home his first unguarded header in six years. Moments later, reigning Asian Player of the Year Al-Dawsari burst through Al Ain’s defence, evaded an onrushing Essa and fired the ball into the goal from a great angle.
Substitute Mateo Sanabria reduced the deficit for Al Ain just after the hour, but Milinkovic-Savic’s cross gave Al-Dawsari his second of the night.
A minute later, Rahimi scored a dominating goal to set up a new duel. Al-Dawsari then restored Hilal’s two-goal lead with a superb long-range shot.
Shortly after the 12 minutes of added time, Hilal were reduced to ten men after defender Ali Al Bulayhi was sent off for an intentional handball. Rahimi converted the penalty to win, completing his hat-trick and giving Al Ain hopes, but the Saudi Arabian champions persevered to win.
Neymar had little time to really make an impact on the game, though, as he shot wide in the final minute of normal time.
Hilal top the West group with three wins from three, while Al Ain have only one point.