Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal have despatched English giants Manchester City crashing out of the Club World Cup, snatching a shock 4-3 victory in additional time within the greatest upset of the event thus far.
The match completed 2-2 at full-time on Monday, however on the finish of an eventful extra-time, Marcos Leonardo grabbed the winner and pulled off one of many biggest wins in Center Japanese soccer historical past.
The Saudi club now advance to the quarterfinals, the place they may face Brazilian club Fluminense, guaranteeing a non-European workforce will attain the final 4.
Man City had taken the lead within the ninth minute in controversial trend, with Bernardo Silva ending after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross.
Al Hilal gamers protested that Ait-Nouri had managed along with his arm within the build-up, however the purpose stood.
Man City had loads of alternatives to lengthen their lead earlier than the break, however a mix of poor ending and impressed goalkeeping from Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved the lead at a single purpose.
Al Hilal provided a number of reminders of their risk on the break however Man City had much more probabilities, with Jeremy Doku volleying straight at Bounou, who moments later reacted beautifully once more to maintain out a Bernardo effort.
The query as to whether or not Man City would stay to remorse not changing these probabilities was answered inside a minute of the resumption.
Former City full-back Joao Cancelo’s low cross was parried out by Ederson. Malcolm pounced however noticed his shot blocked by Ruben Dias, just for the ball to loop to Marcos Leonardo to head residence the equaliser.
Six minutes later, and City’s excessive defensive position was uncovered by an extended ball from Cancelo, which Brazilian Malcolm raced onto, exhibiting energy and tempo as he broke away earlier than coolly slotting previous Ederson.
The Saudi followers within the crowd went wild whereas City supervisor Pep Guardiola responded instantly with a triple substitution, with midfielder Rodri and defenders Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji launched.
That introduced some much-needed stability to a shaky again line however City wanted enchancment on the different finish too, and it got here, albeit in scruffy circumstances.
The Al Hilal defence had been unable to cope with a Bernardo nook and Haaland pounced to steer residence the free ball and make it 2-2.
City piled on the strain as they appeared for the winner however but once more Bounou proved their nemesis as he denied Akanji and Ruben Dias, and even when he was overwhelmed by Haaland, substitute Ali Lajami produced an impressive goal-line clearance.
Guardiola took off Haaland and launched Egyptian ahead Omar Marmoush as the sport went into additional time.
However for all City’s depth, Al Hilal had a deep effectively of spirit to draw upon. Simply 4 minutes into the opening interval, Al Hilal regained the lead when Kalidou Koulibaly rose beautifully to meet a Ruben Neves nook with a brilliantly angled header.
City responded with a purpose of actual high quality when Rayan Cherki’s brilliantly floated ball in direction of the again submit was poked residence masterfully by Phil Foden, at full stretch and from the tightest of angles.
However extremely, Al Hilal responded once more to restore their lead: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header was saved by Ederson however Marcos Leonardo adopted in to bundle the ball over the road.
Because the celebrating Al Hilal followers poured out of the stadium, the Brazilian striker let his feelings pour out, too.
“I’ve had a troublesome time within the final two months. My mom spent 70 days within the ICU,” he mentioned.
“At present, she’s high-quality, thank God. After I scored these two objectives, I considered her. She was in a position to watch the match.”
City skipper Bernardo Silva mentioned his workforce had paid the value for being unable to cope with Al Hilal’s counter-attacking.
“We scored three and will’ve scored 5, six. It was all about controlling after we misplaced the ball, controlling the transitions, don’t allow them to run, and so they ran manner too many occasions,” he mentioned.
“With one, two passes, there was at all times a sense of hazard coming from them. After we permit groups to run like this, we at all times undergo rather a lot, and right this moment was the case,” he mentioned.
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