2004 AFC Champions League Semi-Final

Lore & Background

Al-Hilal is the most successful Saudi club domestically, with a record 21 league titles, 13 Crown Prince Cup titles, seven Saudi Federation Cup titles, 10 King's Cup titles, five Saudi Super Cups, and the Saudi Founder's Cup. In continental competitions, the club has won a record eight AFC trophies, including four AFC Champions League titles (1991, 2000, 2019, 2021), two Asian Cup Winners' Cups (1997, 2002), and two Asian Super Cups (1997, 2000). Internationally, Al-Hilal were runners-up in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first Asian club from outside the host nation to reach the final. In September 2009, the club was awarded Greatest Asian Club of the 20th Century by the IFFHS.

In Their Own Story

The Riyadh night air hummed with anticipation as floodlights cut through the darkness above the King Fahd International Stadium. Thousands of voices merged into a single roar, chanting the names of their heroes in a sea of green and white. On the pitch, the tension was palpable; every pass felt heavier, every tackle more critical. As the ball rolled toward the penalty area, time seemed to suspend itself, waiting for the moment that would define a generation.

Reader's Guide

The source article does not provide details about the 2004 AFC Champions League semi-final. It states that Al-Hilal won AFC Champions League titles in 1991, 2000, 2019, and 2021, but does not mention any participation or results in the 2004 edition.

Did You Know?

• Al-Hilal's name is Arabic for 'the crescent moon'.
• The club was originally established on 15 October 1957 and renamed to Al-Hilal on 3 December 1958 by King Saud.
• Al-Hilal has a market value of €242.5 million as of 2024, the highest in Saudi Arabia.
• The club won its first King's Cup trophy in 1961.