The Saudi Al Hilal Club achieved a historic victory over Manchester City 4-3 after the extension, to reach the quarter-finals of the 2025 Club World Cup, in an exciting match held at the “Camping World” stadium in Orlando in the American round of 16.
Dramatic match details
The meeting started with City’s progress through Portuguese Bernardo Silva in the 9th minute, before Al Hilal equated the result in the 46th minute by Brazilian Marcus Leonardo. Malcolm then added the second goal for Al Hilal in the 52nd minute, but Norwegian Erling Halland re-tied for City in the 55th minute. With the end of the original time in a 2-2 draw, the two teams resorted to additional runs.
The excitement continues in the additional runs
In the 94th minute, Senegalese defender Khalido Coulibaly scored the third goal for Al-Hilal, but alternative Phil Voden returned the result to a 3-3 draw in the 104th minute. Before the end of the second additional half, Marcus Leonardo returned again to score the winning goal in the 112nd minute.
A strong confrontation coming against Fluminness
With this victory, Al-Hilal faces in the quarter-finals the Brazilian Fluminness team, which in turn qualified after the Italian Inter Milan’s elimination by defeating it 2-0.
Al Hilal shines in his tournament in the championship
Al-Hilal had surprised everyone in the group stage by drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid, then its negative tie with the Austrian Salzburg, before achieving a valuable victory over the Mexican Pachuca 2-0.
City’s superiority in the groups was not interceded for
Manchester City, led by coach Pep Guardiola, was the only team that achieved the full mark in his group, after beating Wydad Moroccan 2-0, Al Ain Emirati 6-0, and Juventus 5-2.
Inzaghi’s plan succeeded despite the absences
The Italian coach, Simone Inzaghi, entered the meeting with a defensive tactic (5-3-2), while relying on counterattacks, taking advantage of Leonardo and Malcolm speed despite the absence of the star of the team, Salem Al-Dossary, to injury. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bono has played a pivotal role in maintaining the result.
Coulibaly: “Wonderful feeling”
“It was a difficult match against one of the most powerful teams in the world,” Coulibaly said after the meeting.
