Former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar Jr. has finally scored his first goal for his new club Al-Hilal. The Brazilian was a part of the Saudi Pro League giant’s AFC Champions League match against the Iranian side Nassaji Mazandaran. It was held at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, which they won 3-0.
Al-Hilal took the lead in the 18th minute thanks to their new summer signing Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. However, the score line remained 1-0 until the end of the first half.
In the second half, Neymar the scoresheet with a spectacular left-footed strike in the 58th minute. This ended the Brazilian’s wait for his first goal in the new colors. To seal the victory for the club, Saudi Arabian striker Saleh Al-Shehri scored the third goal for Al Hilal in the 93rd minute.
NEYMAR SCORES HIS FIRST AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOAL FOR AL HILAL! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/15yPDdwsgg
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 3, 2023
Although many appreciated the former Santos str for scoring his first for Al Hilal. Many people were unsatisfied with the player’s performance as they claimed that the player should have scored much earlier than this. Few even took to social media to talk about their opinion.
One fan said, “He just bagged millions again.” Another fan congratulated the star and wrote, “Neymar should’ve scored way more, still congrats.” And a third fan commented saying, “Selling asian football to the world.”
After securing their first win in this season’s AFC Champions League, Al-Hilal has moved to the top of their group. They are now ahead of Uzbek side PFC Navbahor Namangan.
Neymar Jr. blasts about the Iranian pitch they were scheduled to play
Brazilian star Neymar was shocked after viewing footage that showed an incomplete pitch being finished by hand for Al-Hilal’s Asian Champions League clash in Iran on Tuesday. The social media footage showed the workers inside the Azadi Stadium.
They were reportedly making last-minute adjustments by attempting to fill in empty patches on the pitch. These people were dressed in casual clothing and were seen grabbing squares of turf as they placed it on what appeared to be a bed of concrete.
After seeing this the former Barcelona star was then in a state of shock. He responded to this in his social media by reposting this video with a comment stating, “This is not possible”.
🚨🚨🚨
Le stade Azadi qui va accueillir la rencontre entre Nassaji et Al Hilal mardi prochain !!!!
CATASTROPHIQUE 😳
pic.twitter.com/i2nJYWgRwD— SPL 🇸🇦 (@ActuSPL) October 1, 2023
However, Al-Hilal then went on to win their first AFC Champions League match this season as they thrashed Nassaji Mazandaran 3-0. Neymar scored his first goal for the club in this match and ironically on the same pitch he blasted about a few days back.