In the first leg of the AFC Champions League semifinals that ended in the early morning of April 18, Beijing time, the favorite Riyadh Crescent lost 2-4 to Al Ain away from home, failing to occupy the promotion opportunity and ending the proud 34-game winning streak.
As runners-up in last season's AFC Champions League, Riyadh Crescent once again reached the semi-finals this season, while their opponents Al Ain advanced to the semi-finals after knocking out Cristiano Ronaldo's Riyadh Victory team in the quarter-finals.
Just six minutes into the game, the home team Al Ain took the lead. Nadel's diagonal cross from the right flank hit a defender and Rahimi followed up in the box with a low shot.
After conceding the first goal, Riyadh Crescent was in disarray. In the 22nd and 32nd minutes, the Crescent back line was fouled twice and awarded penalties. Rahimi scored two penalties to complete his hat-trick.
Yibian fought again, and in the 48th minute, Riyadh Crescent pulled one back. Milinkovic's cross from the right side of the box was crossed by Malcolm to make it 1-3.
Two minutes later, Riyadh Crescent suffered another blow when Rahimi, who scored a hat-trick, converted another penalty and team-mate Sergio Romero converted the penalty to give Al Ain a 4-1 lead.
In the 77th minute, Al-Dosari scored another goal, but it was too late, and in the end Riyadh Crescent lost 2-4 away.
Previously, Welsh side The New Saints had won 27 consecutive victories in 2016, which was officially recognised by Guinness as the longest winning streak in football. Riyadh Crescent broke that record this season and took it to 34 consecutive wins. During this 34-game winning streak since last September, Riyadh Crescent has scored 100 goals and conceded just 15.
However, with the shock loss in the first leg of the AFC Champions League semi-finals, Riyadh Crescent's proud 43-game winning streak came to an end. At 2 a.m. on the 24th of this month, Riyadh Crescent will return to its home stadium and strive to turn around and reach the AFC Champions League final for the second consecutive year.