The 2022 AFC Champions League final was the final of the 2022 AFC Champions League, the 41st edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 20th edition under the AFC Champions League title.
| Event | 2022 AFC Champions League | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| First leg | |||||||
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| Date | 29 April 2023 | ||||||
| Venue | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | ||||||
| Referee | Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman) | ||||||
| Attendance | 50,881[1][2] | ||||||
| Weather | Clear 31 °C (88 °F) 15% humidity | ||||||
| Second leg | |||||||
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| Date | 6 May 2023 | ||||||
| Venue | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama | ||||||
| Referee | Ma Ning (China) | ||||||
| Attendance | 53,574[3] | ||||||
The final was contested in two-legged home-and-away format between Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia and Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan. Urawa Red Diamonds won the tie 2–1 on aggregate and clinched their third title.[4] As Asian champions, they qualified for the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The 2022 final was the third time in six years that these two teams met in the AFC Champions League final, after the 2017 final which Urawa Red Diamonds won 2–1 on aggregate and the 2019 final which Al-Hilal won 3–0 on aggregate.
Teams edit
In the following table, the finals until 2002 were in the Asian Club Championship era, and since 2003 in the AFC Champions League era.
| Team | Region (Federation) | Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners) |
|---|---|---|
 Al-Hilal
|
West (WAFF) | 8 (1986,[A] 1987,[B] 1991, 2000, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021) |
 Urawa Red Diamonds
|
East (EAFF) | 3 (2007, 2017, 2019) |
- Notes
Road to the final edit
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first.
| Al-Hilal
|
Round | Urawa Red Diamonds
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| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Sharjah
|
2–1 | Matchday 1 |  Lion City Sailors
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4–1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Al-Rayyan
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3–0 | Matchday 2 |  Shandong Taishan
|
5–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Istiklol
|
1–0 | Matchday 3 |  Daegu FC
|
0–1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Istiklol
|
3–0 | Matchday 4 | Daegu FC
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0–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sharjah
|
2–2 | Matchday 5 | Lion City Sailors
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6–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al-Rayyan
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0–2 | Matchday 6 | Shandong Taishan
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5–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group A winner
|
Final standings | Group F runners-up
Source: AFC
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| Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shabab Al-Ahli
|
3–1 | Round of 16 |  Johor Darul Ta'zim
|
5–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Foolad
|
1–0 | Quarter-finals |  BG Pathum United F.C.
|
4–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al-Duhail
|
7–0 | Semi-finals | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
|
2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Format edit
The final was played over two legs. If the aggregate score would have been tied after two legs, the away goals rule would apply. If still tied, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out would have been used to decide the winning team.[5]
Matches edit
First leg edit
Details edit
| Al-Hilal | 1–1 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
          Al-Hilal
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    Urawa Red Diamonds
|
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Assistant referees:[6]
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Match rules
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Statistics edit
| Statistic | Al-Hilal | Urawa Red Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 1 | 1 |
| Total shots | 9 | 2 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 2 |
| Blocked shots | 3 | 1 |
| Ball possession | 72% | 28% |
| Corner kicks | 5 | 1 |
| Passes | 695 | 281 |
| Fouls conceded | 10 | 9 |
| Offsides | 0 | 2 |
| Yellow cards | 0 | 2 |
| Red cards | 1 | 0 |
Second leg edit
Details edit
 Urawa Red Diamonds
|
Al-Hilal
|
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Assistant referees:[7]
|
Match rules
|
Statistics edit
| Statistic | Urawa Red Diamonds | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 1 | 0 |
| Total shots | 6 | 10 |
| Shots on target | 0 | 4 |
| Blocked shots | 2 | 4 |
| Ball possession | 29% | 71% |
| Corner kicks | 4 | 8 |
| Passes | 254 | 593 |
| Fouls conceded | 10 | 9 |
| Offsides | 1 | 0 |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 1 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
References edit
- ^ a b "Al Hilal's missed chances give edge to Urawa for AFC Champions League final leg in Japan". Inside World Football. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b "AFC Champions League 2022 Final, 1st Leg: Urawa Reds fight back to hold Al Hilal". The Away End. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Urawa Reds edge Al Hilal for historic third title". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ Orlowitz, Dan (6 May 2023). "Urawa beats Al Hilal to capture third Asian Champions League title". The Japan Times. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "AFC Champions League 2022 Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Al Hilal vs. Urawa Reds – 29 April 2023 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Urawa Reds vs. Al Hilal – 6 May 2023 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "#ACL2022 FINAL 2nd LEG – URAWA RED DIAMONDS (JPN) vs AL HILAL SFC (KSA)". AFC. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023 – via YouTube.
External links edit
- AFC Champions League, the-AFC.com