Al Hilal Stuns Manchester City 4-3 with Late Winner in Club World Cup
In a huge shock at the Club World Cup, Al Hilal pulled off an incredible 4-3 win over Manchester City on Monday night. The match, played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, was full of excitement and drama, ending with a stunning extra-time goal by Marcos Leonardo that knocked City out of the tournament.
A Thrilling Back-and-Forth Game
The Saudi Arabian team showed real fight, taking the lead three different times, including twice in extra time. Kalidou Koulibaly scored a crucial goal in the 94th minute to put Al Hilal ahead 3-2. But City wasn’t done yet. Just four minutes later, Phil Foden, who had come off the bench, equalized to make it 3-3.
The winner came in the 112th minute. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed a shot on target, but City’s goalkeeper Ederson saved it. However, the ball bounced right to Marcos Leonardo, who quickly fired it in with his right foot while falling near the goalpost. That goal sealed the upset and sent Manchester City home early.
How the Match Went Down
- 9th minute: Bernardo Silva scored first for Manchester City, putting them ahead early.
- 46th minute: Marcos Leonardo leveled the score for Al Hilal at 1-1 right after halftime.
- 52nd minute: Malcom gave Al Hilal the lead, making it 2-1.
- 55th minute: Erling Haaland quickly responded for City, tying the game 2-2.
The game stayed intense until the very end. City had a chance to win in the final moments with a fast counterattack, but a tough challenge stopped the play. No penalty was given, which frustrated City’s coach Pep Guardiola so much that he ran onto the field to argue with the referees after the game.
What’s Next for Al Hilal?
Al Hilal will now face Fluminense from Brazil on July 4 at the same stadium. Fluminense had earlier beaten Inter Milan, so the next match promises to be another exciting battle with a spot in the semifinals at stake.
This match will be remembered as one of the biggest surprises of the tournament, showing that underdogs can never be counted out. Al Hilal’s win proves that anything can happen in football, and fans can’t wait to see what happens next.