Urawa Reds beat Shanghai SIPG 1-0 to advance to ACL final
Posted October 18, 2017 7:00 am
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) - Japanese club Urawa Reds advanced to the final of the Asian Champions League by beating Shanghai SIPG 1-0 Wednesday.
Rafael Silva's header in the 11th minute allowed the Reds to advance 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in China in the first leg last month.
The Reds will play Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the two-leg final on Nov. 18 and 25.
Al Hilal advanced with a 2-2 draw against Iranian club Persepolis on Tuesday, a result that sent the Saudis through 6-2 on aggregate.
The Reds reached the final for the second time after winning the tournament in 2007. They are the first Japanese team to reach the ACL final since Gamba Osaka won it in 2008.
Urawa Reds' Rafael da Silva, center, scores a goal against Shanghai SIPG's goalkeeper Yang Junling in the second leg of their Asian Champions League semifinal soccer match in Saitama, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Urawa Reds' Rafael da Silva, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against Shanghai SIPG in the second leg of their Asian Champions League semifinal soccer match in Saitama, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Urawa Reds' Rafael da Silva, second from left, celebrates after scoring a goal against Shanghai SIPG in the second leg of their Asian Champions League semifinal soccer match in Saitama, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Shanghai SIPG's Hulk of Brazil, left, controls the ball against Urawa Reds in the second leg of their Asian Champions League semifinal soccer match in Saitama, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Urawa Reds' players celebrate after defeating Shanghai SIPG in the second leg of their Asian Champions League soccer semifinal in Saitama, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Shanghai SIPG's players greet referees after their loss to Urawa Reds in the second leg of their Asian Champions League soccer semifinal in Saitama, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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