Al Hilal Stuns Manchester City to Reach Club World Cup Quarterfinals

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal pulled off the biggest surprise of the FIFA Club World Cup by eliminating English powerhouse Manchester City in the Round of 16 with a 4-3 victory after extra time, following a 2-2 draw in regulation.

This result marks Al Hilal’s best-ever performance on the global stage, knocking out a star-studded team thanks to their relentless determination and bold attacking tactics under their new Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, who can now be credited with a remarkable achievement despite joining the club just before the tournament began.

Interestingly, Al Hilal came from behind three times in the match. City had opened the scoring through Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva, who capitalized on a defensive error after Algerian fullback Rayan Aït-Nouri’s cross was initially cleared by Brazilian Renan Lodi, only to rebound off Germany’s Ilkay Gündogan and fall perfectly for Silva to slot home (9’).

Al Hilal equalized when Portuguese fullback João Cancelo delivered a cross into the box. Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson parried it into a scramble, allowing Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo to head the ball into the net (46’).

The Saudi side then took the lead following a counterattack as Cancelo launched a long ball to fellow Brazilian Malcom, who broke away and slotted a low shot past the keeper (52’).

City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola responded quickly by introducing three substitutes, which paid off within three minutes. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland leveled the score after a chaotic corner from Silva, which ended with Haaland firing the ball into the net (55’).

Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly then put Al Hilal ahead once again, rising above the defense to head in a ball delivered by Portuguese midfielder Rúben Neves (94’). City responded with another equalizer as substitute Phil Foden finished a move started by fellow substitute Rayan Cherki from France (104’).

But Al Hilal sealed the match in the 113th minute when Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić connected with a cross from Renan Lodi, heading the ball towards goal. Ederson made the initial save, but Leonardo was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Libertadores Champion Awaits

Al Hilal will face Brazilian side Fluminense in the quarterfinal on July 4. Fluminense also caused an upset by beating Italy’s Inter Milan 2-0, with goals from Argentine striker Germán Cano (3’) and substitute Hercules Pereira (90+3’).

Fluminense extended their unbeaten run to ten matches across all competitions, their longest streak without defeat since January 2023.

This was the Rio de Janeiro club’s first-ever win over an Italian opponent in an official competition. Inter, on the other hand, had previously faced Santos in the 1969 Intercontinental Super Cup and lost 1-0.

It was yet another disappointment for Inter Milan, who had suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final last May. Their Club World Cup exit in the Round of 16 capped off a frustrating season in which they finished second in both Serie A and the Champions League, without lifting a single trophy.

Fluminense struck early after regaining possession in midfield, with the ball reaching Colombian Jhon Arias on the right. His cross deflected off Alessandro Bastoni, landing at the feet of Argentine striker Cano, who nodded it through the legs of Swiss keeper Yann Sommer.

The Brazilian side delivered the knockout blow in stoppage time when substitute Pereira drove a low shot into the far corner to complete the upset.