Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Parramatta: Al Hilal coach Laurentiu Reghecampf believes his side can still claim a third continental title despite losing the first leg of their AFC Champions League final against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.
Despite dominating for long periods of the game, the Saudis succumbed to a 64th minute goal from substitute Tomi Juric to lose the first leg 1-0, leaving the Australian side just 90 minutes from an historic maiden success in the competition.
Al Hilal are seeking their first win at Asian level since the creation of the AFC Champions League in 2002, having previously won the Asian Club Championship in 1991 and 2000, and their Romanian coach is confident they can still prevail.
“We played a very good game,” he said. “We had a lot of chances, but we lost 1-0. I’m sure after six days when we play the next game my team is going to win.
“We need only to score one goal and we are going to see what the atmosphere will be in Riyadh. They wait for us, 65,000 people and for them, and for all the fans we are going to try to win and do a good game.”
Reghecampf singled out Western Sydney goalkeeper Ante Covic for his performance in denying Al Hilal the away goal they and their band of travelling fans so desperately desired.
“In the second half we had three or four chances,” he said. “We have to put the ball inside the goal. The goalkeeper from Sydney did a great job today and I think that’s why the result is only 1-0 for them. Normally we have to score two or three goals.
“But I see only my team. I don’t want to talk about Sydney. They won the game, but we have to see in the second game. We will have the power and we’re going to change the result.”
The defeat was Al Hilal’s third in a row in all competitions, but Reghecampf – who took over from club legend Sami Al Jaber in the summer – is certain his team’s run of disappointing results will end at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh next week.
“It will stop in the next game for sure,” he said. “We will have to see what happens in the next game. We always have to look forward, not back.
“I hope (Western Sydney) don’t score and we have to prepare very well for the game. I’m sure we have to score the goal. In the next game it will be very difficult for Sydney.
“The fact is we lost the game and I’m not happy about that. I’m sure in the next game we are going to win, we are going to try to do that and we will do our best. We know better the team from Sydney now, and I hope we can have the luck and score two or three goals.”
Photo: AFP