The South African Pitso Mosimane, coach of the Iranian football team Esteghlal, is set to face Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia this Monday, reminiscing about the quadruple World Cup when he managed to secure a win against the “Blues” during his time on the coaching staff of the Egyptian team Al-Ahly. This encounter will be a clash to determine the third and fourth places in the 2022 Club World Cup held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Esteghlal will be the guest of Al-Hilal at the “Kingdom Arena” for the fourth round of the AFC Champions League, and Mosimane returns to Saudi stadiums once again, this time as the head coach of the Iranian side after having managed Al-Ahly in the Yellow League for first division clubs during the 2022-2023 season, and then Abha in the Saudi Rushen League for the 2023-2024 season.
Mosimane steered Al-Ahly to 29 matches, winning 19, drawing seven, and losing only three. He managed Abha in 15 games, where he secured five wins, three draws, and seven losses, and he has never faced his adversary, Al-Hilal. During his two experiences in Saudi stadia, his first stint came in the Yellow League, and he was not at the helm of Abha when they clashed with Al-Hilal during his tenure leading the southern team in professional league play.
On the other hand, Al-Hilal has encountered Esteghlal on 12 occasions at the Asian level, having won five matches and lost four, while also winning two encounters via penalties after regular time ended in a draw. Their players have netted 12 goals against Esteghlal, while conceding 11.
Al-Hilal achieved their first victory over Esteghlal in 1992, winning 1-0 in the group stage of the AFC Champions League, with Youssef Al-Thunayan scoring the decisive goal before defeating them in the final of the same tournament 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, with Hussein Al-Habashi scoring for Al-Hilal and Amir Hashemi for Esteghlal.
In their last two encounters, Al-Hilal has triumphed over Esteghlal, winning 2-0 in the Round of 16 of the 2021 AFC Champions League through goals from Salem Al Dosari and Gómez, and prior to that, they won with a solitary goal in the group stage of the continental championship in 2019 by Giovinco.
The last time Al-Azraq lost to Esteghlal was in 2019, during the group stage of the AFC Champions League, by a score of 1-2. Bafetimbi Gómez found the back of the net for Al-Hilal, while Esteghlal’s goals were scored by Karimi and Montazeri.
