Asian Football Wrap-up: The Weekly Roundup

HONG KONG - Key highlights from the week in Asian football:

MITROVIC STRIKES LATE TO EARN AL-HILAL BACK-TO-BACK WINS

Aleksandar Mitrovic struck six minutes from time as Al-Hilal picked up a 3-2 win over Damac on Thursday to continue their perfect start to the defence of their Saudi Pro League title.

The Serbian forward gave Jorge Jesus' side the lead with a clever back header deep into first-half added time and pounced from close range in the 84th minute to secure a second successive win for the reigning champions.

HIROSHIMA GO TOP AFTER ARSLAN HAT-TRICK

Sanfrecce Hiroshima climbed above Machida Zelvia to go top of the J.League on Saturday after Tolgay Arslan's hat-trick gave them a 3-2 win over FC Tokyo.

Hiroshima claimed their seventh league win in a row to move ahead of Machida on goal difference after last season's second division champions were held 2-2 by Urawa Red Diamonds.

STRUGGLING URAWA REPLACE HOGMO WITH RETURNING SKORZA

Maciej Skorza has returned as head coach of Urawa Red Diamonds, eight months after leaving the club to return to his native Poland, the J.League side announced on Wednesday.

Skorza left Urawa at the end of last season for personal reasons having led the club to the Asian Champions League title in May 2023.

The 52-year-old was replaced by Per-Mathias Hogmo but the club's form under the Norwegian has seen Urawa slide to 12th, 19 points behind the leaders.

ULSAN EDGE NINE-GOAL THRILLER TO PULL LEVEL WITH GANGWON

Defending champions Ulsan HD pulled level with leaders Gangwon FC in South Korea after edging Pohang Steelers 5-4 on Saturday.

Kim Young-gwon scored two minutes from time to give Ulsan a 5-2 lead but goals from Pohang's Eo Jeong-won and Lee Tae-seok set up a nervous finish.

Gangwon were held 2-2 after Suwon FC's Choi Kyu-baek scored an equaliser five minutes into added time.