On Saturday, Al-Hilal lost the Asian Champions League final for the third time in a decade. The record books will show that Urawa Reds won the second leg 1-0 to take the tie 2-1 on aggregate but what won’t be as clear was that — just as in 2014 against Western Sydney Wanderers and three years later against the same Japanese opposition — the Riyadh giants could have been the ones lifting the trophy.
Such is football and the Saudi champions have four continental titles, still more than anyone else. But this was a case of what might have been for the title-holders.
What would have happened if, with Al-Hilal comfortably leading 1-0 at home last week, Ali Al-Bulaihi’s attempted clearance in the first leg had not somehow ended up hitting the post, allowing Shinzo Koroki to score a goal that came out of nothing?
What would have happened had Salem Al-Dawsari, scorer of the opening goal, not seen red later in the game leaving him out of the second leg?