Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal pulled off a historic upset on Monday, defeating reigning European champions Manchester City 4-3 after extra time in the FIFA Club World Cup. The dramatic match occurred in Orlando and marked one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.
Manchester City scored in the 9th minute with a Bernardo Silva goal, despite Al Hilal’s protests over a suspected handball by Rayan Ait-Nouri in the buildup. The Premier League side dominated the first half but failed to convert several chances, thanks mainly to heroic saves by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Al Hilal equalized early in the second half through Marcos Leonardo, and just minutes later, Malcolm gave them the lead. Although City struck back with goals from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, Al Hilal refused to surrender. Kalidou Koulibaly scored with a towering header in extra time before Leonardo netted again to seal the victory.
The result eliminated City from the tournament and sent Al Hilal into the quarterfinals, where they will face Brazilian club Fluminense. The win was especially emotional for Leonardo, who dedicated his goals to his mother, who was recently discharged after 70 days in intensive care.
Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva admitted his team struggled to contain Al Hilal’s fast counter-attacks and paid the price. The Saudi club’s resilience and precision secured a memorable victory, boosting Middle Eastern football’s growing profile on the global stage.
