By Sean Miyaguchi,
J-League side Urawa Reds claimed a record third Asian Champions League football title Saturday with a 2-1 aggregate win over Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the long-delayed final of the tournament.
An own goal from Al Hilal winger Andre Carrillo gave Urawa a 1-0 win in the second leg of the final at a windy Saitama Stadium near Tokyo following a 1-1 draw in last Saturday's opening leg in Riyadh.
The hosts went ahead in the 48th minute when the Peru international deflected into his own net after Urawa defender Marius Hoibraten met Ken Iwao's free kick with a header directed toward Shinzo Koroki in front of goal.
"My intention was to try and hit it back in front of the goal, but as you could see, the wind took a good grip on the ball, and lucky for me and the team, it changed direction toward the goal," Hoibraten said.
Captain and right-back Hiroki Sakai was named the tournament's most valuable player after leading Reds to their historic third ACL title in front of over 53,000 vocal fans. No other club has won the ACL more than twice since its 2002 inception.
"The fans created such a great atmosphere and put a lot of pressure on Al Hilal," Sakai said. "As long as we kept a clean sheet, I knew we wouldn't lose."
Despite missing star winger Salem Al Dawsari after his red card in the first leg, the visitors boasted attacking firepower in the form of Brazilian winger Michael and former Nigeria international Odion Ighalo.
Playing against the strong wind in the first half, Reds were forced to soak up pressure early as they struggled to keep possession.
The hosts grew into the match as the half progressed and had their first big chance in the 30th minute when Koroki volleyed into the woodwork off Hiroki Sakai's cross.
The visitors continued to apply pressure, and Reds keeper Shusaku Nishikawa was called into action to stop a thunderbolt from Carrillo late in the half.
Reds missed a chance to go up 2-0 on a counterattack in the 74th minute, with Tomoaki Okubo blazing wide after Al Hilal lost possession while pursuing an equalizer.
Veteran shot-stopper Nishikawa made a succession of big saves late in the match as the desperate visitors threw everything at the Japanese outfit.
Urawa manager Maciej Skorza said his team showed progress from the first leg despite being forced to play more defensively than planned once again by a strong Al Hilal side.
"I think we have started working in a good way, and now we have to develop our style and play more open," the Polish tactician said.
Urawa made big changes to their personnel on the pitch and the sidelines since advancing to the final with a penalty shootout win over South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors last August. Skorza replaced former boss Ricardo Rodriguez, who had steered the team through the semifinals.
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Football: Urawa, Al Hilal draw Asian Champions League final 1st leg
