Al-Hilal broke the jinx barrier that it needed for two decades, and regained its leadership of the Asian continent deservedly, after winning the Asian Champions League for the third time in its history and the first of its new system, at the expense of Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan 2-0, yesterday, Saitama secured the return leg, repeating his 1-0 win.

Salim Al Dosari (74) and Pavitembe Gomez (90 + 3) scored the winning goals for the Riyadh team to win their third title after 1992 and 2000, and take revenge on Urawa, who dropped them in the 2017 final.

Al Hilal will ensure that Asia will be represented at the Club World Cup next month with the participation of Brazil's Flamengo, Liverpool, Esperance, Monterrey of Mexico, Hengin Sport of New Caledonia and the host Qatar.

Al Hilal will kick off their World Cup campaign against African champions Esperance on December 14th, and their winner will meet in the semi-finals of Brazil's Flamengo, crowned Saturday's Copa Libertadores at the expense of Argentine River Plate (2-1).

Al Hilal became the most crowned champions, equally with South Korea's Pohang Steelers, and also runner-up four times in 1986, 1987, 2014 and 2017.

The trophy was lifted by veteran midfielder Mohammed Al Shalhoub (38 years), who entered the last moments, to become the first player to win two titles in 19 years.

Gomez, 34, was named the player of the tournament and scored 11 goals. "We were crowned and our dream came true," said the player, who carried the colors of Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Marseille and Troyes in France, as well as Swansea City and Galatasaray. I love you, Hilal. ”

Salman Al-Faraj, one of Al-Hilal's central stars, said: “The tournament has been achieved with difficulty. This is the third time in the final. Once we say luck, and once we say arbitration, but this year we won the determination of young people and the great team. We will complete our journey and achieve the league and the King's Cup (in Saudi Arabia). Our ambition is not just Asia. "I dedicate my victory to my father and mother in particular."

Control of the leader

Romanian coach Razvan Lucescu took a terrible grip on the Japanese team at home, but they waited until the 74th minute to open the scoring.

Hilal was the best party during the first half, where he dominated most of its periods, and towards the Italian Sebastian Jovenko strong ball, grabbed by goalkeeper Shosaku Nishikawa brilliantly (16).

Urawa tried to reach Al-Hilal goal through a quick attack, but defender Ali Al-Blaihi was present, where he intervened in time and canceled the danger (33).

And saved the Japanese goalkeeper a real opportunity, when he confronted Peruvian ball Andre Carrillo, before returning and away from defense of the danger zone (45).

At the start of the second half, Al Hilal was close to scoring, without the brilliance of goalkeeper Nishikawa, who saved Gomez's ball, before returning and scattered by the defense (50).

Yasser Shahrani missed a valuable opportunity, when he pointed a ball from the outskirts of the penalty area over the bar (62). Gomez wasted a goal that was not lost, when he prepared the ball for himself and played in the chest of goalkeeper Nishikawa, despite facing the full goal (69).

After several crescent attempts, he managed to open the scoring when Juvenko played a cross, Salem Al-Dosari and played inside the goal to the left of Nishikawa (74).

Urawa had to score three goals to overturn the equation, but Hilal's dominance continued, boosted by a second goal in stoppage time, after a "peeled" pass from Peruvian Andre Carrillo to Gomes, easily followed in the net at close range (90 + 3).

Rush so decided

"We tried to make up for the first leg," said Urawa coach Tsuyoshi Otsuki. "We were delayed 1-0, but we didn't succeed. After we got the first goal it was difficult, we tried to rush to attack, but we received the second goal that settled the result." .

"I started training this team in the knockout rounds, and we managed to reach the final by working on the analysis of the first leg, and providing guidance to the players to cross the second leg, and I appreciate what we have done and our success in reaching the final."

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the General Authority for Sport in Saudi Arabia, said in a statement: “Today, the country is pleased to achieve a major achievement on the Asian continent, achieved by the representative of the country Al-Hilal Club, as one of the fruits of unlimited support and attention that the sports sector enjoys. By the leadership of our precious home. '' Al Hilal have played their third final since 2014 when they lost to Western Sydney Australia in the aggregate (0-0 draw and 0-1 loss), then fell to Urawa Red Diamonds in the 2017 final, when they drew with them in Riyadh 1. 1 and lost a return of zero -1.

Al Hilal became the first Arab team to win the title since 2011, and the first Saudi to be crowned since Al Ittihad in 2005, and crowned the title for the first time with its new system.

Hilal is the first Arab team to win the title since 2011.

The first Saudi team to be crowned since the Federation in 2005.