In a thrilling match that will be remembered for a long time, Al Hilal pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory over Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup, knocking the Premier League champions out of the tournament. The match was filled with drama and excitement, with both teams creating numerous scoring opportunities.
The match began with Manchester City taking an early lead through Bernardo Silva’s goal in the 9th minute. Silva pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to score after Al Hilal’s defense failed to clear the ball. However, Al Hilal responded well and equalized early in the second half through Marcos Leonardo’s header in the 46th minute. Leonardo scored after Ederson parried Malcom’s finish inside the box.
Al Hilal took the lead in the 52nd minute through Malcom’s goal, who received the ball with space and beat Ederson with a classy finish. However, Erling Haaland restored parity for Manchester City with a clinical finish in the 55th minute, marking his 300th career goal. The match ended 2-2 after regular time, with Salem Al-Dawsari pulling Al Hilal level as regulation ended.
In extra time, Phil Foden scored his 100th goal for Manchester City to make it 3-2. However, Kalidou Koulibaly responded instantly with a header, making it 3-3. The match was heading for a penalty shootout when Marcos Leonardo scored again in the 112th minute, sending Al Hilal through to the quarterfinals.
Manchester City dominated possession and created numerous chances but failed to convert them into goals. Al Hilal’s disciplined defense and counter-attacking strategy paid off, as they took advantage of Manchester City’s mistakes to score crucial goals. Al Hilal’s goalkeeper, Bono, also made several crucial saves to deny Manchester City.
The victory marks a significant upset, with Al Hilal becoming one of the biggest underdogs to knock out a top European team in the FIFA Club World Cup. Al Hilal will now face Fluminense in the quarterfinals.