They are the last team standing between Western Sydney Wanderers FC and the AFC Champions League title. But who are their danger men?
We take a look at Al Hilal’s impressive young coach and their key men ahead of Saturday’s final first leg at Parramatta Stadium.
Thiago Neves – Playmaker extraordinaire
*Has played six times for the Brazilian national team
*Was once a team-mate of Wanderers star Vitor Saba in their time at Flamengo where Ronaldinho was also in the squad
*Is in his second stint with Al Hilal. He was signed by the club for $10million in 2009, spending two years there before heading back to Brazil. Was re-signed by the club last year, this time for a fee of just over $9m
*Was voted the best player in Brazil’s Campeonata Carioca in 2011 when on loan at Flamengo
*Won a bronze medal with Brazil at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Nasser Al Shamrani – Saudi strike-machine
*His nickname is “The Earthquake”
*Scored three of Al Hilal’s four goals in their 4-2 semi-final aggregate win over Al Ain
*Despite his slender build is blessed with incredible pace, a powerful shot and loads of skill
*Has scored twice against the Socceroos, in World Cup qualifying matches in 2011 in Saudi Arabia and in 2012 at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Yasser Al-Qahtani – Captain and goal-machine
*One of Saudi Arabia’s most celebrated players, scoring 42 times in 112 caps for the national team;
*Is known as “The Sniper” and scored a goal at the 2006 World Cup in Germany;
*Has a reputation as a bit of a playboy of Saudi football with many stories of parties and late nights at his luxurious Riyadh pad.
*Once trialed at EPL club Manchester City, but allegedly left the training pitch in tears after a rough challenge from defender Richard Dunne
* Does loads of TV ads in Saudi for various drink products including milk
* May miss the first leg but will be a constant threat on home soil at the King Fahd Stadium
Laurențiu Reghecampf – Super-coach
*He is a legend at Steaua Bucuresti, winning two league titles at the club as both a player and manager
*Is the seventh Romanian to manage Al Hilal, taking over in May this year on a big-money deal after he was poached due to his success at Steaua
*Has also coached in the UEFA Champions League with Steaua, and had Melbourne Victory’s Daniel Georgievski in his squad
*As a player was a skillful right midfielder, making one international appearance for Romania against Denmark in 2003. Played for clubs like Steaua Bucuresti, Energie Cottbus, Alemannia Aachen and FC Kaiserslautern.
