Japan's Urawa Reds edged Shanghai SIPG of China 1-0 on Wednesday night to advance to the final of the Asian Champions League.
Rafael Silva headed the winner in the 11th minute as Reds reached their first final since winning the tournament in 2007, going through 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in China in the first leg on Sept. 27.
Reds will play Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the two-legged final on Nov. 18 and 25.
Al Hilal booked their place in the final with a 2-2 draw against Iran's Persepolis on Tuesday, a result that sent the Saudis through 6-2 on aggregate.
"We were aware of the need to keep a clean sheet and show courage out there," said Urawa captain Yuki Abe. "Obviously it would have been better if had scored more goals. But we will take a 1-0 win."
"Scoring first was going to be crucial to the result and I am happy we were able to score first from a set piece."
"It's not going to be easy (to win the final) but we have our mates (the fans) with us so I think we will be okay. Let's go and try and get the job done."
Silva scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Shanghai in the ACL group stage in April -- a match in which SIPG'S Brazilian star Oscar missed two penalties -- and was on target again to open the scoring at Saitama Stadium.
Yosuke Kashiwagi, who netted Urawa's crucial away goal in the first leg in China on Sept. 27, whipped a corner into the danger zone and Silva peeled away from marker Odil Ahmedov to power his header past Yan Junling.
Yuki Muto missed a decent chance to double Reds' lead when he sent a free header wide in the 17th minute, and goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was called upon to make a key save at the other end from Hulk's free kick.
Reds had another opportunity from a set piece 11 minutes into the second half, but Tomoaki Makino headed Kashiwagi's corner against the crossbar.
The home side continued to force the pace and Yan produced an acrobatic save to push Shinzo Koroki's header over the bar before Nishikawa recovered to make a key save from Elkeson after he had spilled Hulk's shot.
Reds are the first Japanese team to reach the ACL final since Gamba Osaka won it in 2008.
