As the night drew in, the flames of Group B of the AFC Champions League were rekindled at dawn on Tuesday (22nd). Brazilian soccer superstar Nima returned to action for Saudi giants Hilal after an injury. The 32-year-old striker showed amazing energy in just 10 minutes, and his agile dribbling, precise shooting and clever breakthroughs were still a pleasure to watch. Although Hilal were playing with 10 men, Nima helped his side to a thrilling 5-4 win over previous champions Aïaan, making it three wins out of three to top the group.
Nima joined Hilal for a record transfer fee last year, but suffered a torn ACL after only five games. 369 days and nights later, he returned to the field with his love for soccer. In the first half, Hilal took a 3-1 lead over AFC Champions League newcomers Aaan, with Nima not starting, but his presence was felt everywhere. The match resumed with a fierce attack, with goals pouring in until the 77th minute, when Hilal took a 5-3 lead, and Nima finally suited up.
Bruna's parents and girlfriend Biancardi were in the audience to witness their daughter Mavie's emotional moment. Although it was slightly unfortunate that Nima, the No.10, left the field midway through the match, Hilal's Ebrich was unfortunate to be shown a red card, but Nima's performance continued to be eye-catching. A quick counter-attack saw him shoot narrowly past the opposition goal, and his clever breaks down the field led to fouls from opposing players. Despite the fact that Iaan scored several goals in extra time, Nima's return to the game gave Hilal the chance to turn the game around.
After the match, Nima was excited to say, "I feel great... I'm so happy to play for such a great team again, I'm back! I'm back!" Since joining Hilal, Nima has appeared in 6 games and contributed 3 goals and 3 assists. Although his contract with Hilal expires next summer, he is entitled to an automatic extension of more than one year under the terms.
