Former champions Al Hilal squeezed into the knockout rounds of the Asian Champions League by the slimmest of margins on Friday as the 2019 winners progressed to the last 16 as one of the best runners-up despite a 2-0 loss at the hands of Shabab Al Ahli.
Igor Jesus's brace earned the already-eliminated club from the United Arab Emirates all three points in Riyadh, but a 1-1 draw between Group C rivals Al Duhail from Qatar and Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia meant Al Hilal secured the final runners-up berth.