Former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar, 32, who tore his Meniscus and Acl in the left knee in October last year while on international duty has not played ever since
After long lay off, Brazil’s famed forward Neymar returned to the pitch appearing as a substitute as Al Hilal knocked out Asian champions – Al Ain – in a five goal thriller which ended 5-4.
It is worth recalling that in October of last year, the 32-year-old forward last played for the Brazilian national team but sustained an injury to the meniscus and the anterior cruciate ligament causing him to go under the knife, and Neymar has not been able to play since.
Brazil’s all-time highest goal scorer, who has quite the recovery after going through surgery and rehab, has scored 79 goals in just 128 games for his country.
Making his first appearance after being on Hilal’s bench for the first time since the injury at the Hazzan Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, he came on at the 76th minute during the Asian Champions Elite match.
The four time Asian Champions, who lead the Saudi Pro League, were up 5-3 thanks to goals from Renan Lodi and Milinkovic-Savic who scored a hat trick. Salem Al Dawsari also featured among the scorers to give the league leaders a comfortable lead.
Neymar is unable to be registered for any matches in the Saudi top-flight, until January.
On Monday, Hilal was able to break the deadlock after 26 minutes as the former strikers for New Castle and Fulham, Aleksandar Mitrovic, after making an assist to Lodi on the left side of the pitch, who has once played for Atletico Madrid fired a powerful shot past Khalid Essa who was gallantly guarding the Al Ain goal.
Nevertheless, by the 39th minute and just before half-time, Hernan Crespo’s charges were able to equalize through Soufiane Rahimi of Morocco who tapped in a screamer cross into the net.
Last season, Rahimi was among the prominent figures during Al Ain’s journey to Youth Asian Champions League glory, as he was the competition’s top goal scorer and voted the best player of the tournament.
In the dying stages of the first frame, Hilal appeared to have put UAE advanced teams RAK below their level.
Let us present Joao Cancelo, who came from Manchester City this summer, who landed the ball beautifully inside the box and picked Milinkovic-Savic — six yards out, completely unmarked – who headed the ball into the net. A couple of minutes later, Asian Player of the Year Ismail Al Dawsari broke through the defense of Al Ain, rounded on an oncoming Essa, and put the ball in the far corner of the net with a superb effort.
Then, Al Ain lessened the deficit soon after the hour mark when substitute Mateo Sanabria scored, only for Al Dawsari to extend Hilal’s lead again by scoring his second for the night after connecting to a cross from Milinkovic-Savic.
Minutes later, Rahimi scored his second goal of the match. Al Dawsari then had the Hilal faithful in elation after scoring a beauty from outside the box.
Al Bulaihi was sent off for a deliberate handball leaving Hilal with only 10 players on the pitch for the final moments of the game. Rahimi scored a penalty to complete a hat-trick, giving Al Ain some hope. However, The Saudi champions should be pleased to have held off their opponents to claim the Forsal Trophy.
Neymar was not in a position to have guaranteed a match-winning impact due to the lack of chances that fell his way. Nevertheless, Neymar missed one attempt wide in stoppage time.
Hilal is on top of the Western region group with three out of three wins, while Al Ain have secured only one point.