Al Hilal's record 34-match winning run ends at Al Ain

Morocco striker Soufiane Rahimi was the star of the show after he scored a first-half hat-trick in a 4-2 win for Al Ain in their semi-final first leg. Al Hilal, the four-time Asian champions, last failed to win a game in September last year in a Saudi Pro League match.

Rahimi opened the scoring after just six minutes and Yahia Nader and added a second from the penalty spot 20 minutes later.

Rahimi completed his hat-trick in the 40th minute, again from a penalty. Al Hilal reduced the deficit early in the second period when Malcom scored from a pass by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. However, the Saudis conceded yet another penalty. This time Paraguayan star Alejandro Romero took over spot-kick duties to make it 4-1 for Al Ain, the inaugural winners of the ACL in 2003. Salem Al Dawsari kept Al Hilal in the tie ahead of next Tuesday's return leg.