Urawa Red Diamonds are champions of Asia for a third time after they defeated holders Al Hilal 2-1 on aggregate in the Asian Champions League final on Saturday.
The Japanese side, who shared a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Riyadh last week, prevailed 1-0 in the return fixture at Saitama Stadium, where Andre Carillo’s own goal on 49 minutes proved enough.
The final represented the third time the two teams had met in the showpiece, after 2017 and 2019, with the rivalry now much like this year’s ultimate scoreline - sitting at 2-1 to Urawa.
Hilal, record winners of the continent’s principal club trophy, could not add to their four titles - they were attempting to capture the trophy for a third time in four years - although they will be left to rue a missed opportunity in injury-time.
With time running out for the visitors, Odion Ighalo's close-range shot was saved by Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.
Hilal will take little comfort from being so dominant in the first half. The Saudi Arabian side made clear their intentions right from the off, when Ighalo saw his effort blocked on the line by Urawa centre-back Alexander Scholz. In the build-up, forward Abdullah Al Hamdan, in for the suspended Salem Al Dawsari, looked to have been tripped by Nishikawa, although the referee waved away Hilal’s protests.
Unperturbed, Ramon Diaz's men settled into their stride, Michael and Carillo forcing fine saves from Nishikawa, Ighalo failing to control a ball over the top, and Mohammed Kanno quickly drilling over.
However, Urawa offered a stark reminder of their danger on the counter. For all their defensive discipline in the opening 45 minutes, the hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock. Captain Hiroki Sakai lofted a cross to Shinzo Koroki, scorer of that precious away goal one week ago, but the veteran forward could only crash an acrobatic volley against the Hilal crossbar.
Yet, four minutes into the second half, Urawa made amends. Defender Marius Hoibraten headed a free-kick spinning across goal, Koroki missed with his connection and, as the ball spun towards the empty goal, Carillo could not prevent it from nestling in the Hilal net. It was deemed an own goal. Just like the first leg, the champions conceded not long after half-time.
For a time, Hilal looked ragged. But Urawa soon settled back into their defensive shape, asking their rivals to break them down, squeezing the space deep in their half.
Still, Tomaki Okubo found some at the other end, the Urawa midfielder racing clear on the right but blazing over. Minutes later, Atsuki Ito sent a superb shot from distance inches past the Hilal post.
As time drifted towards its conclusion, Hilal’s hold on the trophy disappeared from their grasp. They crowded the Urawa penalty area, but to little effect. Ighalo was not allowed to get away a shot through bodies; Michael fired his attempt way off target.
Right at the death, Hilal’s final chance was arguably their best. Ighalo rolled a defender, stared down Nishikawa, but smashed the ball straight at the Urawa stopper. Manager Diaz held his head in his hands.
And that was it. Hilal's bid for back-to-back successes was gone, Urawa's trio of titles secure. Unbeaten now in 13 matches, Maciej Scoria's turnaround of the team to took over late last year was complete.
Company%20Profile
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Notable Yas events in 2017/18
October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)
December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race
March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event
March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge
Honeymoonish
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
