Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds wins the Asian Champions League 2023
Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds have won the Asian Champions League after beating Saudi Arabian defending champions Al Hilal 1-0 in Saturday’s final second leg for a 2-1 aggregate win.
Urawa claimed their third Asian title in front of almost 55,000 home fans in Saitama stadium in north of Tokyo, after Al Hilal’s Andre Carrillo early in the second half scored an own goal.
The last week’s opening leg in Riyadh resulted in a 1-1 draw.
Urawa had to withstand fierce first-half pressure from Al Hilal, who were aiming to win a record fifth continental title and a third in four seasons.
The final saw the decisive moment when Carrillo turned a header from Urawa’s Marius Hoibraten into his own net amid strong wind in the 48th minute, before a determined rear-guard effort from the home side saw out the result and sent the crowd into delirious celebrations.
The two teams met in the final of Asia’s premier club competition for the third time in six years.
Urawa has previouly won in 2017 while Al Hilal came out on top two years later.
