🏆 Al Hilal Stuns Manchester City 4-3 in Club World Cup Thriller
In one of the most shocking upsets in Club World Cup history, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal defeated Manchester City 4-3 in extra time on Monday night in Orlando, Florida. The dramatic encounter saw Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo score twice, including the winning goal in the 112th minute, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Fluminense of Brazil.
The match started in City’s favor, with Bernardo Silva scoring in the 9th minute after capitalizing on a poor clearance by Renan Lodi. Although Al Hilal protested a handball earlier in the move, the referee allowed the goal to stand. Despite several efforts by City to double their lead, Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou kept them at bay.
After the halftime break, Al Hilal came out aggressively. In the 46th minute, Marcos Leonardo headed in a looping rebound after João Cancelo's cross was initially stopped by Ederson. Just six minutes later, Malcom put Al Hilal ahead 2-1 with a calm finish after a brilliant long pass from Cancelo. However, Erling Haaland quickly responded in the 55th minute, leveling the score at 2-2 with a powerful header from a corner.
The match went into extra time where Kalidou Koulibaly scored in the 94th minute to give Al Hilal a 3-2 lead. But City refused to give up. Phil Foden, assisted by substitute Rayan Cherki, volleyed a beautiful equalizer past Bounou in the 98th minute.
The decisive moment came in the 112th minute when Leonardo netted his second goal of the night. After Ederson saved a header from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Leonardo pounced on the rebound and scored the match-winner, sealing a famous victory for the Riyadh-based club.
After the match, Koulibaly reflected, “We knew it was a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world. We showed our ideas, our talent, and our power. We were defensively solid and made every opportunity count.”
This historic win not only knocked out the reigning Premier League and Champions League winners but also marked a significant milestone for Saudi football. Al Hilal’s resilience, tactical discipline, and clinical finishing turned what seemed like a routine match into a legendary contest.
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