Urawa, Al Hilal 1-1 in 1st leg of Asian Champs League final

Posted November 18, 2017 6:00 am

The Associated Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Urawa Reds of Japan drew 1-1 in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final on Saturday.

Both goals at King Fahd International Stadium came in the first half.

Rafael Silva gave Urawa the early lead and an away goal, while Omar Khribin equalized with his 10th of the tournament.

Urawa, the one-time champion a decade ago, was on the board after just eight minutes through Silva's low shot from inside the area.

The Saudi side responded with pressure on Urawa goalkeeper Shusaka Nishikawa, who had to make several saves, especially from Khribin.

The Syrian striker, in the running for the Asian Football Confederation player of the year award, made amends eight minutes before the break, shooting past Nishikawa from close range.

The second leg is next Saturday at Urawa's Saitama Stadium.

Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari, right, fights for the ball against Japan's Urawa Red Yuki Muto during the first leg of their Asian Champions League final soccer match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.