Manchester City’s attempt to defend their FIFA Club World Cup title came to a dramatic end in Orlando, as Al Hilal came from behind to win 4-3 and reach the quarter-finals. The result also ended Pep Guardiola’s perfect record in this competition.
City were the strong favourites before kick-off and made the ideal start in the 9th minute. Bernardo Silva scored from close range after a clearance hit İlkay Gündoğan and landed kindly in his path. Although there was a quick VAR check for handball, it was dismissed. However, when the replay was shown on the big screen, Al Hilal players protested strongly, delaying the restart.
Al Hilal tried to fight back but couldn’t manage a single shot on target in the first half. Meanwhile, City kept pressing, but goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made several top saves to keep his team in the game, denying Erling Haaland, Savinho, and Jérémy Doku. His efforts kept the score at 1-0 going into the break.
Just minutes after the second half began, Al Hilal turned the game around. First, Marcos Leonardo scored from close range after a cross wasn’t cleared. Then Malcom broke away from his own half and finished calmly to make it 2-1.
Their lead didn’t last long, as Haaland equalised in the 55th minute after a corner wasn’t properly cleared. Moments later, Al Hilal thought they’d won a penalty, but the decision was overturned due to a tight offside.
With both teams starting to tire, the game slowed down, but City nearly won it late on when Haaland’s shot was cleared off the line by Ali Lajami. The game went to extra time.
Al Hilal started extra time strongly. Rúben Neves delivered a perfect corner, and Kalidou Koulibaly headed past Ederson to make it 3-2. Guardiola brought on Phil Foden, and the change worked right away. Foden made it 3-3 with a brilliant finish from Rayan Cherki’s cross.
But with just minutes left, Al Hilal struck again. Ederson made a great save to stop Milinković-Savić, but the rebound fell to Marcos Leonardo, who bundled the ball over the line to win the match 4-3.
Al Hilal now go on to face Fluminense in the quarter-finals.
