Al Hilal, going into the first leg of their AFC Champions League semifinal against Persepolis, would have expected the Iranians to give them a run for their money, given the inspirational way in which they reached the final four stage.
But what transpired was Al Hilal pulling their weight and scoring four huge goals against Persepolis in the first leg, with Omar Khribin notching a hat-trick.
However, their inspired performance had another fulcrum to it in the form of Saudi Arabian midfielder Salem Al Dawsari. The 26-year-old controlled the game from midfield and ensured Persepolis were penetrated time and time again to bash their hopes before the second leg.
Al Dawsari notched two vital assists, including a fabulous through ball for Khribin in the second half. He had 89 touches of the ball throughout the game, highlighting his influence on the game. He finished with a passing accuracy of 81% and had created four more scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Though he did not score a goal, Al Dawsari's performance sees him named as Goal 's Player of the Week.
