In a stunning upset at the Club World Cup in Orlando, Florida, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia defeated Manchester City 4-3 in extra time. Marcos Leonardo's goal in the 112th minute sealed the victory for the Saudi Arabian side, sending shockwaves through the competition.
Bernardo Silva scored early for Manchester City in the ninth minute, giving the Premier League champions an initial advantage. However, Al Hilal responded quickly after halftime with goals from Marcos Leonardo and Malcom within six minutes, turning the game on its head. Erling Haaland leveled the score for City in the 55th minute, but Al Hilal continued to press.
The match went to extra time, where Kalidou Koulibaly put Al Hilal ahead again with a header from a Ruben Neves corner. Phil Foden then scored his 100th goal for City to equalize. However, Leonardo scored his second goal of the night with seven minutes remaining, securing the win for Al Hilal.
Al Hilal's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, made several crucial saves throughout the match, denying Manchester City's potent attack on multiple occasions. Al Hilal's coach, Simone Inzaghi, who took over this summer, kept his team focused, which helped them advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Koulibaly noted the difficulty of playing against one of the world's best teams but praised his team's talent, power, and strong defensive performance. He added that they capitalized on their offensive opportunities.
The match was filled with dramatic momentum swings. Al Hilal's relentless attacks and City's comeback attempts made for a thrilling encounter. Al Hilal will now face Brazil's Fluminense in the quarterfinals.