Al Hilal Stun Manchester City in Club World Cup Thriller

By Ugbede James

In one of the biggest shocks in FIFA Club World Cup history, Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal eliminated European champions Manchester City with a dramatic 4–3 extra-time victory on Monday, sealing their place in the quarter-finals against Brazilian club Fluminense.

The round of 16 clash, held at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, finished 2–2 after 90 minutes before Al Hilal’s Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo struck the decisive blow in extra time, completing a famous win that ensures a non-European team will feature in the tournament’s last four.

City opened the scoring in the 9th minute through Bernardo Silva, who converted Rayan Aït-Nouri’s cross. The goal stood despite Al Hilal’s protests over a possible handball by Aït-Nouri in the build-up.

Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the first half and had multiple chances to extend their lead, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced a string of outstanding saves to keep the score at 1–0 heading into the break. Bounou denied efforts from Jeremy Doku and Bernardo Silva, frustrating City’s attacking unit.

Al Hilal capitalized quickly after halftime. Former City full-back João Cancelo delivered a low cross that Ederson could only parry. Malcom’s initial effort was blocked, but Marcos Leonardo headed home the rebound in the 46th minute to level the score.

Six minutes later, Cancelo launched a long ball that Malcom raced onto, showcasing his pace and composure to finish past Ederson and put Al Hilal ahead.

Guardiola reacted with a triple substitution, bringing on Rodri, Nathan Aké, and Manuel Akanji to stabilize his defense. The move helped City regroup, and they found an equalizer when Erling Haaland pounced on a loose ball following a corner to make it 2–2.

City pushed hard for a winner, but Bounou continued to be a wall in goal, denying Akanji and Rúben Dias. Even when he was finally beaten, substitute Ali Lajami made a goal-line clearance to preserve Al Hilal’s hopes.

As extra time began, Al Hilal surged ahead again. In the 94th minute, Kalidou Koulibaly powered in a brilliant header from a Rúben Neves corner to make it 3–2.

City responded once more through Phil Foden, who stretched to meet Rayan Cherki’s floated pass and poked it in from a tight angle to equalize at 3–3.

But Al Hilal were not done. With just minutes remaining, Sergej Milinković-Savić’s header was parried by Ederson, only for Marcos Leonardo to react quickest and bundle in the rebound his second goal of the night and the match winner.

An emotional Leonardo dedicated his performance to his mother, who recently recovered after a life-threatening illness.

“I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months. My mother spent 70 days in the ICU,” he said. “Today she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her. She was able to watch the match.”

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva admitted his side were undone by Al Hilal’s pace and counter attacks.

“We scored three and could’ve scored five, six. 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,” Silva said.

“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.”

Al Hilal now march into the quarter-finals, while Manchester City exit the tournament early in what will go down as one of the most memorable upsets in Club World Cup history.