Al-Hilal’s fans didn’t care.
Playing the AFC Champions League home clash against Qatari side Al-Sadd wasn’t perceived as a threat, as they arrived with a rare but comfortable 4-1 lead from the first leg. The scenario promised nothing but a red carpet by the Qataris to the Saudis, all the way to the competition’ final. Eventually, it wasn’t the case.
The Panther is taking Al-Hilal to where their fans want the most. Bafetimby Gomis (Photo: The Asian Football Confederation)
The semifinal second leg between Al-Hilal and Al-Sadd in Riyadh on Tuesday was a dream come true for Asian and Middle Eastern football aficionados. It was raining goals in the first half, raining yellow cards throughout the second and a dazzling header in the 94th minute. Pace, drama, action, everything.
And honestly, if the Asian Champions League was a social media platform, after last night's game Al-Hilal and Al-Sadd, with many gestures and posts, would both update their statuses to ‘It’s complicated’.
When the draw combined a clash between the two biggest clubs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, it was clear that it would get intense right from the beginning. With the Gulf Crisis and the relations between the two countries at a significant low in recent years, it was very much expected.
“Personally, I played in Belgium and Spain in front of huge crowds”, noted Akram Afif, Al-Sadd’s star before the match. “As a team, we played at a full Azadi Stadium in Iran. Al-Hilal’s fans don’t scare us. We are excited to play at such a marquee game”.
In any other situation, these kind of comments by the Qatari star would cause havoc in the media. This time, it was received with slight indifference. The hammering victory by the Blues in the first game took a lot out of the poison of the Riyadh match.
But it was Afif who scored first, in what kicked-off a crazy game that after 25 minutes was already 3-2 for the visitors, who suddenly looked, somehow, favourites to go through.
It ended in a 4-2 victory, which marked a 5-6 loss in aggregate, Al-Sadd deserved nothing but respect for pushing their opponents so far and producing the viewers a great game. The Saddawys may go home, as they should after losing at home 4-1, but they gave everything they had and this is something to be proud of.
“It was a very strong match between two teams in the same level”, concluded Akram Afif after the match. “We wish Al-Hilal good luck”, he added. Xavi Hernandez, the Al-Sadd coach, has also said similar things.
Suddenly, rare gestures of shared respect, appreciation and sportsmanship, occurred among Saudis and Qataris. A year back and these things would seem rare like science fiction.
Now Al-Hilal faces their third final in five years and their seventh overall. Their opponent will be Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan. The Japanese have managed to beat Chinese powerhouses, Guangzhou Evergrande, twice - 2-0 at home and 1-0 away. Hilal traditionally struggles with East Asian teams, especially in terms of speed and pace, and Razvan Lucescu’s players will have to be fully focused in defense, in both matches. After collapsing against the Japanese team in 2017 with Ramon Diaz as coach, the Saudis must win it this time. With Bafetimbi Gomis, Sebastian Giovinco and Andre Carillo there are no excuses.
But even if they don’t, maybe this double header with Al-Sadd has won the Saudis something with great importance. Even if for a moment, some ease and respect with your neighbours is something that doesn’t come easy these days. Especially not in the Middle East.