Al Hilal vs Urawa score, result as AFC Champions League title up for grabs after wild 1st leg

Simon Borg

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Al Hilal vs Urawa score, result as AFC Champions League title up for grabs after wild 1st leg image

The Asian Champions League title will be hanging in the balance when the second leg is played on May 6 in Japan after the Urawa Red Diamonds return home with a valuable away goal in a 1-1 first-leg draw at Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

As defending champions, Al Hilal were the favourites heading into the two-leg final, and they got off to a spectacular start with an early first-leg goal netted by Saudi Arabia World Cup star Salem Al Dawsari.

But the Blues then took their foot off the pedal and allowed Urawa to creep back into the match, with the visitors coming close on a few occasions before deservedly finding a second-half equaliser through 36-year-old centre-forward Shinzo Koroki, who was the first to pounce on the rebound from a poor defensive clearance that struck the post.

Both sides made a series of substitutions late in the match seeking an edge, and Al Hilal came close through Moussa Marega. But a frustration kick-out by the influential Al Dawsari saw him red-carded by the referee with three minutes remaining. He will be forced to sit out the second leg due to suspension.

That second leg will be played on Saturday, May 6 in Saitama, Japan, and if the teams are still level on aggregate goals, away goals will serve as the first tiebreaker with Urawa having the momentary edge in that department thanks to their goal in Riyadh.

This series marks the third time that Al Hilal and Urawa Reds have faced off for the Asian crown. They split the last two final meetings in 2017 (Urawa Reds won 2-1 on aggregate) and 2019 (Al Hilal won 3-0 on aggregate).

MORE: Saudi Pro League top scorers as Al Hilal's Odion Ighalo leads the way

Al Hilal vs Urawa final score

  Final
Al Hilal 1
Urawa Reds 1

Goals:
HILAL — Salem Al Dawsari (Michael) — 13th min.
URAWA — Shinzo Koroki — 53rd min.

Lineups:

Al Hilal (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Al Mayouf (GK) — 66. Saud, 20. Jang, 5. Al Bulayhi, 2. Al Burayk (88. Al Yami, 84') — 28. Kanno (8. Otayf, 75'), 7. Al Faraj — 96. Michael, 29. S. Al Dawsari, 17. Marega — 9. Ighalo

Urawa Reds (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Nishikawa (GK) — 2. H. Sakai (77. Ogiwara, 80'), 28. Scholz, 5. Hoibraten, 15. Akimoto — 3. A. Ito (22. Shibato), 19. Iwao — 21. Okubo (46. Hayakawa, 80'), 8. Koizumi (25. Yasui, 68'), 14. Sekine — 30. Koroki (99. Martrinez, 68')

Al Hilal vs Urawa live updates, highlights from AFC Champions League 1st Leg

Final: Al Hilal 1-1 Urawa Reds

90th min: Five minutes of stoppage time. And 10-man Al Hilal are still pressing forward despite being down a player.

87th min: Red card to Al Hilal! It's goal scorer Salem Al Dawsari sent off for a kick-0out after Urawa's Ken Iwao drags him to the ground with an American football tackle. But Al Dawsari can't react with a kick-out. He'll miss the second leg.

86th min: SUB Urawa. It's been all about the subs in the last few minutes and Urawa bring on Kai Shibato for midfielder Atsuki Ito.

84th min: SUB Al Hilal: Manager Ramon Diaz brings on Hamad Al Yami for left-back Al Burayk.

80th min: SUBS Urawa. The visitors bring on two more players. It's Takuya Ogiwara to take over at left-back for captain Hiroki Sakai, while Jumpei Hayakawa comes on for midfielder Tomoaki Okubo,

75th min.: Chance Al Hilal. More like a half-chance. The hosts haven't created much in this second half, and a tame Odion Ighalo header is off target.

SUB Al Hilal. Meanwhile, Al Hilal central midfielder Mohamed Kanno, who had been cramping, is replaced by the experienced Abdullah Otayf.

72nd min.: Penalty appeal Al Hilal! But Moussa Marega was already going down in the box before the ball reached him. Good decision by the referee not to point to the spot. That was never a penalty.

69th min.: SUBS Urawa. The Japanese club's Polish head coach brings in fresh legs up top and at attacking midfield. Kaito Yasui is on for Yoshio Koizumi, while forward Jose Kante Martinez replaces goal scorer Shinzo Koroki.

66th min.: Chance Al Hilal! Moussa Marega receives the ball in the box, and spins quickly, but his diagonal shot is tipped wide of the post by the Urawa 'keeper. No corner is given, but the replays show that the 'keeper got a fingertip to it.

53rd min.: Goal Urawa! It's Koroki who gets it! Al Hilal centre-back Al Bulayhi commits the error, recklessly deflecting a through ball meant for Koroki and he sends the ball off the post. It's Koroki who reacts quickest to the rebound and we're level!

46th min.: The second half is underway. No changes for either side.

The Al Hilal fans are winning the first leg of the Champions League final at halftime, but they want more. Here they are chanting "Messi, Messi" to Al Hilal president Fahad Bin Saad Bin Nafel as rumours of his potential arrival have piqued fan interest.

Halftime: Al Hilal 1-0 Urawa Reds

Halftime: Al Hilal are oozing experience and confidence in this competition, taking an early lead and managing the game since. But they need one or two more goals to really feel comfortable ahead of the second leg in Japan.

Despite not holding much possession, Urawa are hanging around, and look like they can be dangerous at any point. An untimely slip, two good defensive interventions by Al Hilal, and a misdirected header were more attacking impetus than Al Hilal mustered after their goal.

45th min.: Al Hilal chance! The Saudi Arabian club threatens again, on a play sparked by a run from Michael, who they clearly need to find more often. The Brazilian is on the left now, and he drives a ball into the box. It ultimately falls to central midfielder Mohamed Kanno just outside the box, who fires off target.

37th min.: Defensive play Al Hilal! Excellent job by central midfielder and captain Salman Al Faraj to come back in the box and make the defensive play on an Urawa player slaloming in the Al Hilal box.

Urawa have a bit more determination about them in attack. The match has swung in their favour.

30th min.: Chance Urawa! And it's another look for the Reds! A cross from the right is met with a header in the box. by Takahiro Akimoto that's off the mark. But that's another threat mounted by the Japanese side.

28th min.: Chance Urawa! It's Koroki who slips just as the ball was reaching him with space. It was a rare look for the visitors, but they couldn't take advantage. Al Hilal escaped there.

24th min.: Outside of a run into the box by Al Hilal forward Odion Ighalo, which was defused by the Urawa defenders. the teams have been measured in their approach. Al Hilal are seemingly happy to have the lead, while Urawa content to contain the damage.

18th min.: Urawa penalty shout! Kiroki goes down in the box, but the referee from Oman does not see anything wrong with the challenge from Al Hilal centre-back Al Bulayhi. That's a good decision by the official.

13th min.: Goal Al Hilal! Michael on the right side did the damage with a penetrating run, and his cross went through the Urawa six-yard box, finding Salem Al Dawsari at the far post to roof it.

6th min.: It's been all Al Hilal early on as Urawa absorb the pressure. The script is clear: Urawa will be looking to stay organised defensively against the attack-minded Al Hilal side.

Defending has been Urawa's calling card during their recent 11-match unbeaten run, giving up just six goals in that span.

1st min.: We're off. Al Hilal kick us off and the supporters are in full voice.

2 mins from kickoff: The teams are out on the field and lined up. We're moments away from kickoff. Check out the "Go Blues" tifo by the Al Hilal supporters.

13 mins from kickoff: More video from the Al Hilal warmups as kickoff nears.

29 mins from kickoff: Here's Al Hilal top scorer Odion Ighalo, who's eager to win his first AFC Champions League.

30 mins from kickoff: The Urawa Reds traveling supporter contingent make their voices heard during warmups:

60 mins from kickoff: And here's the Urawa lineup. Right-back Hiroki Sakai plays his first match since April 9.

90 mins from kickoff: Al Hilal have already released their lineup well in advance of kickoff. With only four international player spots available per team (3+1 rule is three internationals, and one from an Asian country), Al Hilal have left Gustavo Cuellar, Andre Carrillo, and Luciano Vietto off the roster for this first leg.

Odion Ighalo, Moussa Marega, Jang Hyun-soo, and Michael are the international players selected.

2 hrs from kickoff: The first leg will be held at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, also known as the Pearl, with the second leg coming a week later on May 6 from Saitama Stadium.

Al Hilal vs Urawa lineups

The FIFA Club World Cup runners-up will be missing Luciano Vietto, Gustavo Cuellar, Andre Carrillo given the international player restrictions in the AFC Champions League.

Al Hilal starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Al Mayouf (GK) — 66. Saud Abdulhamid, 20. Jang Hyun-soo, 5. Ali Al Bulayhi, 2. Mohammed Al Burayk — 28. Mohamed Kanno, 7. Salman Al Faraj (capt.) — 96. Michael, 29. Salem Al Dawsari, 17. Moussa Marega — 9. Odion Ighalo

Al Hilal subs (10): 31. Habib Al Wutaian (GK), 60. Ahmed Al Jubaya (GK), 70. Mohammed Jahfali, 4. Khalifah Al Dawsari, 88. Hamad Al Yami, 16. Nasser Al Dawsari, 8. Abdullah Otayf, 43. Musab Fahd Aljiwayr, 11. Saleh Al Shehri, 14. Abdullah Al Hamdan

Urawa Reds' Polish head coach Maciej Skorza has no fresh injury concerns to deal with ahead of the trip to Riyadh with key right-back Hiroki Sakai passed fit to travel and he was slotted into the starting lineup.

Urawa Reds starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Shusaku Nishikawa (GK) — 2. Hiroki Sakai (capt.), 28. Alexander Scholz, 5. Marius Hoibraten, 15. Takahiro Akimoto — 19. Ken Iwao, 3. Atsuki Ito — 21. Tomoaki Okubo, 8. Yoshio Koizumi, 14. Takahiro Sekine — 30. Shinzo Koroki

Urawa subs (10): 12. Zion Suzuki, 4. Takuya Iwanami, 6. Kazuaki Mawatari, 13. Tomoya Inukai, 77. Takuya Ogiwara, 22. Kai Shibato, 25. Kaito Yasui, 40. Yuichi Hirano, 46. Jumpei Hayakawa, 99. Jose Kante Martinez

Al Hilal vs Urawa Red Diamonds live stream, TV channel

  Date Time TV channel Streaming
Australia Sun, April 30 03:30 AEST — Paramount+
Canada Sat, April 29 13:30 EDT — OneFootball
Hong Kong Sun, April 30 01:30 HKT — M Plus Live
India Sat, April 29 23:00 IST — OneFootball
Malaysia Sun, April 30 01:30 MYT — OneFootball
New Zealand Sun, April 30 05:30 NZST — OneFootball
Singapore Sun, April 30 01:30 SGT — OneFootball
UK Sat, April 29 18:30 BST — OneFootball
USA Sat. April 29 13:30 EDT — Paramount+

UK: The match will be available to fans via live stream on OneFootball.

USA: The Asian Champions League, including the finals, is streamed by Paramount+ in the USA.

Canada: Fans in Canada can watch both legs on OneFootball.

Australia: Both legs of the Asian Champions League will be streamed on Paramount+ in Australia.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.