Tomi Juric scored in the second half to put Western Sydney Wanderers one step away from becoming the first Australian club to win the continental title by beating Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal 1-0 in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final on Saturday.
Juric’s goal in the 64th minute came shortly after he entered as a substitute and it gave the Wanderers a slender lead ahead of the return leg at Riyadh next Saturday.
“It was a real battle,” Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said. “They’re a very good side. We can’t doubt that but we showed we’re a good side as well getting that goal and having a few chances to go 2-0 up.”
“We had to be very resolute against a very good team and this has given us a chance to win the final.”
Hilal’s defence had very little to do for nearly an hour, but Juric’s introduction in the 59th minute for Brendon Santalab changed the contest dramatically.
Within minutes of coming on, the 23-year-old forward slid in to meet defender Antony Golec’s superb curling cross and scored. It was only the third goal Hilal’s much-vaunted defence has conceded in its past 10 ACL matches.
Hilal staged a furious late rally to score a crucial away goal, but the visitors were denied by a mix of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Ante Covic.
“We had a tough job ahead of us today,” Juric said. “The boys did a fantastic job in defence and in attack as well.”
Juric almost added a second goal minutes later, but his low shot hit the inside of the post with goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Sudairy beaten.
Popovic praised Juric’s performance and the impact he was able to have on the match.
“Tomi scored a fantastic goal,” the coach said. “It was a great overlap and a real striker’s finish. It’s just a shame he didn’t get that second one.”
A positive result for the Wanderers in the second leg next week in Riyadh will make them Australia’s first club continental title holders.
“We’re halfway towards achieving something very special,” Popovic said. “We have set the platform now, but the job’s not done.”
Western Sydney is only the second Australian club to reach the ACL final.
Six years ago Adelaide United were defeated by Japanese club Gamba Osaka in the decider.
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