After 368 days since suffering serious injury on international duty for Brazil, Neymar returned to action for Al Hilal in Al Ain.
The forward appeared as a second half substitute for the Saudi Pro League giants as they avenged their defeat to the same opposition last season in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Such was the wildness of the encounter between two of west Asia’s most historic clubs, Neymar’s return from his anterior cruciate ligament injury was merely one of the minor incidents of an extraordinary night.
Salem Al Dawsari and Soufiane Rahimi both struck hat-tricks as a sensational game ended 5-4 to Al Hilal at a pulsating Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
An encounter between these two sides always has the potential to be feisty. But even by their usual standards, this was something else.
So brilliant were Hilal last season, they only lost once in all competitions. Their lone conquerors were Al Ain. That semi-final fixture in last year’s Champion League was clearly still fresh in the memories of both teams.
The antagonism between the two clubs made for a fiery atmosphere straight from the off. In fact, long before it. Around half the seats were filled an hour before kickoff, and a roar boomed out from the corner where the travelling fans had their first glimpse of Neymar shortly after.
By kick off, the Hazza bin Zayed was full to 24,000, and the atmosphere crackled. Despite the star-studded opposition, Al Ain’s players were emboldened rather than cowed, and they made a rapid start.
Rahimi, their talisman, had a shout for a penalty in the fifth minute, when he was bundled over on the edge of the Hilal box. It was not given, and the visiting players and staff remonstrated with the referee, suggesting he should watch out for the Moroccan striker’s gamesmanship.
But Rahimi had been felled, and a defender landed on his head in the process, so it was understandable he required treatment.
A few moments later, he had the ball in the net, profiting from a mistake by Mohammed Al Yami, the inexperienced goalkeeper who was filling in for Yassine Bounou, Rahimi’s Morocco teammate, in goal for the visitors.
After Al Yami missed a through ball, Soufiane swept his shot into the empty Hilal net, but the goal was ruled out as the Al Ain striker had been offside when he started his run.
Despite the early onslaught from the home team, Hilal showed no signs of fretting. There is a reason they are 43 matches unbeaten in the Saudi Pro League.
It was they who opened the scoring when Renan Lodi, the left-back who played Uefa Champions League football for Atletico Madrid in the past and was signed for Marseille, shot past Khalid Eissa.
The home side rallied, and equalised when their own Brazil-born left-back, Erik, crossed for Rahimi to tap in from close range.
For all their attacking endeavour, the emotion of the occasion showed in the looseness of Al Ain’s defending. First, that came in the form of a header from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in injury time at the end of the first half which restore Hilal’s lead.
The towering Serbian midfielder had been entirely unmarked six yards out when he met Joao Cancelo’s cross.
As an indicator of how much drama there was, the first half lasted for 54 minutes. By the time the referee did eventually blow for the interval, Al Ain were 3-1 down. Al Dawsari, the Hilal captain, scored it, on a breakaway from an Al Ain corner.
As Neymar busied himself running through warm-ups on the touchline midway through the second half, Al Ain’s hopes were revived as Mateo Sanabria reduced the arrears with a tap in.
No sooner had that happened, though, Hilal helped themselves to a fourth. Milinkovic-Savic found space on the right, crossed for Al Dawsari, and the captain poked a shot in off the post.
By that stage, the game was resembling basketball as either side took turns to attack and score. Next, it was Rahimi’s turn to double his tally, bringing the score to 4-3.
Then, as Neymar was stood patiently next to the fourth official, ready to make his long awaited return, Al Daswari score the goal of the night to complete his hat-trick.
That did not end the mania. Neymar came on straight after, but, such was the action, barely anyone noticed. Before the great Brazilian had made a contribution of any note, Ali Al Bulayhi, Hilal’s cantankerous centre-back, had been sent off.
A hopeful through ball was launched over the Hilal defence. Al Bulayhi lost his bearings and Kodjo Laba, the forward he was trying to mark, and thrust his arm out to stop it reaching him. The referee initially awarded yellow, before upgrading it to red after reverting to the video review.
Al Ain refused to give in, and they struck a fourth when Rahimi completed his hat-trick from the spot after earning the penalty himself. Although Al Ain pushed on for a fifth that would have levelled the score, they could manage no more.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Ferrari
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
SCORES IN BRIEF
New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Kibsons%20Cares
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MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
