Saudi champions beat European holders 4-3 in extra-time thriller to reach quarterfinals
Al Hilal (2.55) have delivered the shock of the tournament. The Saudi Arabian side knocked out defending champions Manchester City (3.25) 4-3 after extra time in Orlando on Monday night. It was seven goals, drama, and the biggest upset the Club World Cup has seen in years.
City led early through Bernardo Silva’s ninth-minute strike. But Al Hilal refused to roll over. They fought back twice in normal time and twice again in extra time to book their place in the last eight.
The result sent shockwaves through world soccer. European champions City were expected to cruise past the Saudi Pro League winners. Instead, they’re heading home early whilst Al Hilal march on to face Brazilian side Fluminense in the quarterfinals.
Seven-Goal Thriller
City started fast. Silva finished off a cross from Rayan Ait-Nouri after just nine minutes. Al Hilal players protested that Ait-Nouri had used his arm in the build-up. The goal stood.
Pep Guardiola‘s men should have been out of sight by half-time. Jeremy Doku volleyed straight at goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. The Moroccan keeper made several superb saves to keep his side in the game.
Those missed chances came back to haunt City. Marcos Leonardo equalised within a minute of the restart. The Brazilian striker headed home after Malcolm’s shot was blocked.
Six minutes later, Al Hilal were ahead. Malcolm broke clear from a long ball by former City defender João Cancelo. The winger showed pace and power before slotting past Ederson to make it 2-1.
City hit back quickly. Erling Haaland pounced on a loose ball from Silva’s corner to level at 2-2 after 55 minutes.
Both sides had chances to win it in normal time. Bounou denied Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji. When Haaland did beat the keeper, substitute Ali Lajami cleared off the line.
Extra-Time Drama
The drama continued in extra time. Kalidou Koulibaly gave Al Hilal the lead again four minutes into the first period. The defender rose brilliantly to head home from Ruben Neves’ corner.
City responded with quality. Phil Foden, who came on as a substitute, scored a magnificent equaliser. The midfielder poked home Rayan Cherki’s floated cross from the tightest of angles to make it 3-3.
But Al Hilal had the final word. Leonardo scored his second goal in the 112th minute. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header was saved by Ederson but the ball fell to Leonardo. The striker bundled it over the line to complete a famous victory.
Personal Triumph
Leonardo’s goals meant everything to him. The striker revealed his mother had spent 70 days in intensive care recently.
“I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months,” he said after the match. “My mother spent 70 days in the ICU. Today, she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her. She was able to watch the match.”
City’s Regrets
City captain Silva admitted his team paid the price for poor defending. The Portuguese midfielder pointed to Al Hilal’s counter-attacking threat.
“We scored three and could’ve scored five, six,” Silva said. “It was all about controlling when we lost the ball, controlling the transitions, don’t let them run, and they ran way too many times.
“With one, two passes, there was always a feeling of danger coming from them. When we allow teams to run like this, we always suffer a lot, and today was the case.”
Road to the Semifinals
Al Hilal’s victory means no European team is guaranteed a place in the semifinals. They face Fluminense (2.50) on 4 July at Camping World Stadium. The Brazilian side knocked out another European giant, Inter Milan, earlier this week.
For City, it’s an early end to their Club World Cup defence. Guardiola’s men were favourites to retain their crown. Instead, they’re packing their bags whilst Al Hilal prepare for the biggest quarterfinal in their history.
The upset proves the gap between continents is closing. On this evidence, European dominance in world soccer is no longer guaranteed.
