DOHA — Al-Hilal bounced back from behind to see off fellow Saudi rivals Al-Ittihad 3-1 and storm into the semifinals of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

After a goalless first leg, both teams had everything to play for but Al-Hilal made the most of their home advantage at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh to prevail in an entertaining encounter.

Al-Hilal, the 1991 and 2000 champions, suffered an early setback, somewhat unluckily, when Al-Ittihad's Ziyad Al-Sahafi scuffed his shot following a corner and a failed clearance, but the ball still had enough on it to trickle in off the post, stunning the large home crowd.

Immediately after the half-hour mark, Al-Hilal had a golden chance to draw level when Peruvian Andre Carrillo saw his header kept out by goalkeeper Fawaz Al-Qarni.

Al-Qarni, however, couldn't prevent Al-Hilal from getting the equalizer a minute before half-time after Salem Al-Dawsari did all the hard work on the left flank and crossed to Carrillo.

Al-Qarni's effort to stop Carrillo's shot only succeeded in deflecting the ball into the net.

Having drawn level, Al-Hilal were a different side in the second half as they took the lead with Al-Dawsari and Carrillo working their magic again.

Al-Dawsari sent a long diagonal pass for Carrillo, who took his time and returned the ball to his onrushing partner who scored with a header in the 48th minute.

The job was done in the 78th minute when Sebastian Giovinco grabbed a pass from Mohamed Kanno to fire beyond al-Qarni after getting past the defense.

Al-Hilal will meet Qatar's Al-Sadd in the semifinals next month. — AFP