AFC Champions League Final 2014 First Leg

ACL Final 2014: Western Sydney Wanderers v Al Hilal

Western Sydney Wanderers hold a slim lead going into the second leg

Paul Williams

Just when you think they've met their match they surprise you yet again. The Western Sydney Wanderers proved everyone wrong, again, when they defeated Al Hilal 1-0 in the first leg of the AFC Champions League final on Saturday night.

Tomi Juric celebrates his goal for Western Sydney Wanderers.
Tomi Juric celebrates his goal for Western Sydney Wanderers in the ACL Final First Leg

Al Hilal came into the game as favourites, and dominated for most of the game, controlling more than 60% of possession. Yet for all that domination, they couldn't make it count and find the goal they were looking for, and the game changed on the hour mark when young-gun Tomi Juric entered the field.

Within minutes the Wanderers were ahead and the whole momentum of the game had changed. If it weren't for the post he would've had a brace, and the Wanderers would have taken a two-goal advantage to Riyadh.

But we also have to put this win in context. Given this is a two-legged final, we're really only at half time and while a 1-0 win is undoubtedly a fantastic result, it's still a slender advantage as the teams head back to Saudi Arabia for the second leg.

And it's at home where Al Hilal is at their formidable best. If you look at the form line, Saturday night's result shouldn't have come as a big surprise. After a loss in their first game at home to Ulsan, Western Sydney has a perfect record (now six wins in a row), and all without conceding a goal. While for Al Hilal, if we include Saturday night they've won just one of their seven away games.

It is their home form that has allowed them to advance to the final (five wins, one draw). In their last five matches at home they're yet to concede a goal, and with 65,000 raucous fans behind them they'll feel confident of overturning the 1-0 deficit.

Yet it is these odds that Western Sydney delight in overcoming.

Everyone said the same when they travelled to face the might of Guangzhou Evergrande in the Quarter Final holding a 1-0 advantage from the home leg. And while they lost on the night 2-1, that precious away goal allowed them to advance.

The main threat for Al Hilal is their talisman Nasser Al-Shamrani, now the all-time leading ACL scorer with 25 goals, 10 of those in this campaign. Tony Popovic no doubt identified that and his defence, minus Socceroos defender Matt Spiranovic, did a masterful job of nullifying his influence. A half chance fell his way on the stroke of half time but he blasted over.

Tomi Juric celebrates his goal for Western Sydney Wanderers.
Tomi Juric's goal means Western Sydney Wanderers head to Riyadh with a slender advantage
Tomi Juric in the Sydney press.
The Australian press hail the Wanderers' performance

His run ins with Wanderers keeper Ante Covic in the second half highlighted his frustration at being unable to have an influence on the match.

Covic, who came to his side's rescue in injury time to deny Salem Al-Dawsari from point blank, must surely be pushing Al Hilal gloveman Abdullah Al-Sudairy for the title of goalkeeper of the year in the ACL. Time and time again he has stood tall at pivotal moments and he did so again last night.

So we head to Riyadh with the final still very much alive. Al Hilal looking to win their first continental title in 14 years, while Western Sydney, in their first ever ACL appearance, are looking to become the first Australian side to claim the title.

What can we expect?

With Al Hilal needing two goals to win they'll need to attack, which is just how they like to play. They did so on Saturday but came away with nothing to show for it. This time they need to make the most of their half chances. They'll regain the services of captain Yasser Al-Qahtani who was suspended for the first leg, and his presence, whether he starts or comes off the bench, could be pivotal. While Western Sydney did a good job of nullifying Al-Shamrani, with Al-Qahtani also on the field it's double the trouble for their defence.

Al Hilal need to tighten up at the back, however. They are a side that affords teams chances, and as they push forward, they need to be careful not to be caught on the counter. It was such a move that caught them out on Saturday. Abdullah Al-Zori, while fantastic going forward, has a propensity to lose his man, as was the case last night when Juric slipped by him to knock in the winner.

He will need to tighten that part of his game because if Western Sydney get an away goal, the task will become that much harder for his side.

All year people have written off the Wanderers and it will likely be the case this week. And that's just how they like it.

If come this time next week they've been crowned Asian champions we really shouldn't be surprised.

Fairytale now has a leg to stand on.
Fairytale now has a leg to stand on

Copyright: Paul Williams & Soccerphile.com