<div><img style="" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.qsl.qa/sites/default/files/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D…; alt="Alt" title="" /></div>
<p>QNB Stars League side Al Rayyan improved their chances of progressing to the knockout stage after beating Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 2-1 in an AFC Champions League Group D match on Monday.</p><p>It was Al Rayyan’s first victory and The Lions have six points.  </p><p>In front of more than 8,000 cheering spectators at the Al Sadd Stadium where Al Rayyan play their home matches, the hosts got the breakthrough a minute before half-time.</p><p>Moroccan spearhead Abderrazaq Hamdallah was brought down in the six-yard box by defender Abdullah Al Zori and the former stepped up and converted from the spot to hand Al Rayyan the lead heading into the break.</p><p>Al Hilal had a chance to score the equaliser through Yasser Al Qahtani’s header after the onrushing goalkeeper failed to clear the ball, but Al Qahtani saw his attempt blocked by defender Gonzalo Viera.</p><p>While Al Hilal struggled to produce meaningful attacks, Al Rayyan doubled their lead after Hamdallah broke free on the counter and produced a pass to captain Rodrigo Tabata who was afforded too much space and fired a shot at the heart of Ali Al Habsi’s net in the 66th minute to put his side’s victory beyond doubt.</p><p>The visitors got their consolation goal in the 90th minute after Ahmed Yasser fouled Achraf Bencharki inside the box and Al Qahtani drove home the resulting penalty kick.</p><p>Both teams have away fixtures in the fifth round as Al Hilal face the UAE’s Al Ain, while Al Rayyan travel to Tehran to face Esteghlal.</p>