In Orlando, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal pulled off one of the Club World Cup’s shocks on Monday, defeating Manchester City 4-3 in extra time to go to the quarterfinals against Fluminense of Brazil.
Simone Inzaghi’s team defeated the Premier League team, who had taken a lead through Bernardo Silva in the ninth minute, in the 112th minute thanks to a goal from Marcos Leonardo, his second of the evening.
Al-Hilal took the lead 6 minutes after the restart with goals from Leonardo and Malcom, but City’s Erling Haaland drew the game in the 55th minute.
Koulibaly Heads Al-Hilal Ahead in Extra Time Drama
Kalidou Koulibaly put the Riyadh-based team ahead four minutes into extra time by heading into Ruben Neves’ corner. Phil Foden then tied the score for City, but Leonardo scored with seven minutes remaining to give Al-Hilal the victory.
Koulibaly: “We Wanted to Demonstrate Our Strength”
Koulibaly stated, “We knew it was going to be a tough game against one of the world’s best teams.” We wanted to demonstrate our thoughts, abilities, and strength, and I believe we created a really strong game.
We were quite powerful on defence, and we took advantage of every opportunity we had to be joyful.
After Renan Lodi’s effort at a clearing wound up at his feet inside the six-yard box, Portuguese playmaker Silva poked the ball over the line to give City the lead.
A sprawling Ederson first stopped Joao Cancelo’s pass into the six-yard box after Malcom surged down the right, but Leonardo headed the looping rebound into the open net.
The Brazilian calmly stroked his shot past Ederson six minutes later after Cancelo’s throw from deep inside his own half released Malcom behind the defence.
However, the advantage would only last three minutes as Haaland pounced on Silva’s corner and Ali Lajami’s last-ditch clearance on the line prevented the Norwegian a late winner.
Foden Volley Levels for City Before Leonardo Winner
Koulibaly gave the Saudis the lead with a header from a corner 4 mins into extra time. However, a combination of replacements, Rayan Cherki and Foden, delivered the England international’s amazing 1st-time volley over Bounou and into the bottom corner, giving Man City another equaliser.
Leonardo scored his second goal of the evening after Ederson saved Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header, the exhausted Brazilian wobbling as he guided the winner home, but Al-Hilal would not be stopped.
Rayan Ait-Nouri of City had brushed the ball’s wrist earlier in the motion, according to replays, but the referee dismissed the Al-Hilal appeals.
Bounou Saves Deny City Before Al-Hilal Equaliser
Then, just before half-time, Al-Hilal keeper Yassine Bounou made a string of saves to deny City, and seconds after the restart, the Saudi club levelled.
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