RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Urawa Reds of Japan drew 1-1 in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final on Saturday.
Both goals at King Fahd International Stadium came in the first half.
Rafael Silva gave Urawa the early lead and an away goal, while Omar Khribin equalized with his 10th of the tournament.
Urawa, the one-time champion a decade ago, was on the board after just eight minutes through Silva’s low shot from inside the area.
The Saudi side responded with pressure on Urawa goalkeeper Shusaka Nishikawa, who had to make several saves, especially from Khribin.
The Syrian striker, in the running for the Asian Football Confederation player of the year award, made amends eight minutes before the break, shooting past Nishikawa from close range.
The second leg is next Saturday at Urawa’s Saitama Stadium.
Urawa, Al-Hilal 1-1 in 1st leg of Asian Champs League final
Urawa, Al-Hilal 1-1 in 1st leg of Asian Champs League final
US invests in counter-drone tech to protect FIFA World Cup venues
The US will invest $115 million in counter-drone measures to bolster security around the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, the latest sign of governments stepping up drone defenses.
The FIFA World Cup will be a major test of President Donald Trump’s pledge to keep the US secure, with over a million travelers expected to visit for the tournament and billions more watching matches from overseas.
The threat of drone attacks has become a growing concern since the war in Ukraine has demonstrated their lethal capabilities. And recent drone incidents have worried both European and US airports.
“We are entering a new era to defend our air superiority to protect our borders and the interior of the United States,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. Defense companies are developing a range of technologies aimed at countering drones, including tracking software, lasers, microwaves and autonomous machine guns.
The DHS did not specify which technologies it would deploy to World Cup venues. The announcement comes weeks after the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which sits under DHS, said it granted $250 million to 11 states hosting World Cup matches to buy counter-drone technologies.
Last summer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, called on Trump, a Republican, to bolster federal support for defending against drone attacks.
