AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Final: Al-Hilal Fail To Capitalize On Home Advantage.
Al Hilal failed to make use of their home advantage as Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan fought back to get a valuable away goal as they played a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Saturday.
By-Oma Akatugba
Saudi Arabian midfielder Salem Al Dawsari scsored the first goal for the host in the 13th minute before Japanese forward Shinzo Koroki equalized for Urawa Reds. The match had an attendace 50,881 fans.
The home side dominated early in the game but failed to create any clear-cut chances as Urawa chose to sit back and defend around their area. Just before the quarter of an hour of the game, Al-Hilal got the breakthrough, a cross from Brazilian winger Micheal on the right flank was supposed to be a comfortable save from Urawa Red’s goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, but a lack of communication between him and Danish center-back Alexander Scholz could not stop the ball as it found its way to Al Dawsari at the far post and the Al-Hilal midfielder made no mistakes putting the ball a the back of the net.
the away side’s first aim at Al-Hilal’s goal came in the final five minutes of the half as Yoshio Koizumi collected the ball on the left from a short corner kick, but his shot sailed high and wide of the Al Hilal goal. The second half resumed with a quick exchange of attacks at both ends and in the 53rd minute, it was Urawa who got the equalizer. Urawa equalized after a mistimed sliding tackle by Defender Ali Al Bulahi sent the ball past his goalkeeper and back off the upright to fall for Urawa forward Koroki to slot the ball into the net.
Al Hilal’s task to restore their lead suffered a major setback in the 89th minute, as Al Dawsari was given a straight red card for kicking out Ken Iwao who brought him down and was given the marching order. It is the second time Al Hilal’s number 29 was sent off against Urawa with another coming in the 2017 final.
The 1-1 draw is a recurrence of the 2017 final first leg result. Urawa won the trophy after claiming a 1-0 victory in the return leg at the Saitama Stadium 2002 where the two sides will resume their hostilities in a week.
