Silva leads Urawa to 2nd AFC Champions League title

Saitama (Japan) Nov 25 (IANS) Urawa Red Diamonds Brazilian forward Rafael Silva on Saturday scored a late winner against Saudi Al-Hilal leading the Japanese side to clinch the AFC Champions League title for the second time.

With just two minutes to go in the final s second leg played at Saitama Stadium Silva notched the only goal in the game with a shot from close range reports Efe.

In the first leg played on November 18 Urawa had drawn 1-1 against Al-Hilal when Silva also gave his team the lead before Syrian forward Omar Kharbin drew level.

Al-Hilal was denied their third AFC Champions League title and the first since 2000 while Urawa clinched their second crown ten years after first winning the title.

With the win Urawa secured a place in the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for next month in United Arab Emirates.

In their first match at the 2017 Club World Cup Urawa is scheduled to take on the winner between Emirati Al Jazira and New Zealand s Auckland City in the play-offs.Urawa Red Diamonds Brazilian forward Rafael Silva on Saturday scored a late winner against Saudi Al-Hilal leading the Japanese side to clinch the AFC Champions League title for the second time.

With just two minutes to go in the final s second leg played at Saitama Stadium Silva notched the only goal in the game with a shot from close range.

In the first leg played on Nov. 18 Urawa had drawn 1-1 against Al-Hilal when Silva also gave his team the lead before Syrian forward Omar Kharbin drew level.

Al-Hilal was denied their third AFC Champions League title and the first since 2000 while Urawa clinched their second crown ten years after first winning the title.

With the win Urawa secured a place in the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for next month in United Arab Emirates.

In their first match at the 2017 Club World Cup Urawa is scheduled to take on the winner between Emirati Al Jazira and New Zealand s Auckland City in the play-offs.

--IANS
sam/vm