Club World Cup earthquake: Al-Hilal defeats City and ends Guardiola's dream

Simone Inzaghi 's Al-Hilal caused a stir on Monday by winning 4-3 after extra time against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando to advance to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup , where they will face Fluminense. A brace from Marcos Leonardo and goals from Malcom , a former Barcelona player, and Kalidou Koulibaly caused an earthquake in the Club World Cup. City, one of the first candidates due to their quality of play, after advancing with full points, and for having a favorable table, bids farewell to the tournament after a thrilling match in which Al-Hilal gave everything and took a historic victory.

The Saudi Arabian side, which has put $25 million annually on the table of Simone Inzaghi, the coach who led Inter to two Champions League finals, will play a quarterfinal against Fluminense at this same stadium on July 4th, with the possibility of prolonging their dream. In the stands of the Camping World Stadium, packed with Saudi fans, several supporters were moved by the advance to the round. Al-Hilal's victory was a complete surprise against a City side that had just thrashed Juventus 5-2 to close out an immaculate group stage with nine points and thirteen goals scored. And because the start of the match seemed to set up another comfortable victory.

Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo , and Gundogan moved the ball around with quality, while Doku and Savinho rattled the Al-Hilal defense with their spark and change of pace. Savinho was a torment for Al-Hilal's left flank. He was the source of almost every threat City created in a first half that ended 1-0 only thanks to Yassine Bono's monumental performance . It was a confused play in the penalty area, with Al-Hilal protesting a possible City handball, when Bernardo pounced on a rebound to send the ball into the back of the net . Barely nine minutes had passed and Guardiola's pressure had already pushed the Saudi team, unused to that kind of pace, to the limit.

Inzaghi pitched a game of defensive struggle and rapid counterattacks, entrusting his team with a speedy trident of Al Dawsari, Malcolm and Marcos Leonardo . His team even created a few potentially dangerous chances, but City's defence was able to eliminate them in time. Guardiola's forward line could have scored many more goals in the first half , but Bono was the star of the show with spectacular saves from headers by Rubén Dias and Erling Haaland , a curling shot from Doku, and a miracle save against Savinho. The Brazilian tried to dribble past him, but the goalkeeper managed to grab his left arm, which was already lying on the ground, and denied him a second goal.

Those saves kept Al-Hilal alive. And Inzaghi's team capitalized on them . They had a spectacular start to the restart. Marcos Leonardo equalized with a header as soon as he came on, and in the 52nd minute, a counterattack led to Malcom being one-on-one with Ederson . The Brazilian, formerly of Barcelona, ​​crossed the shot and gave the Saudi side the lead. The Al-Hilal fans at the Camping World Stadium were making their presence felt, and Inzaghi's approach, with two lines packed tightly together and Marcos Leonardo as the sole attacking force, caused City serious problems. It was thanks to Haaland, with his first chance of the second half, that City avoided major problems . The Norwegian equalized 2-2 in the 55th minute, briefly halting Al-Hilal's strong run.

It was only a matter of inches, though, as the English side narrowly escaped a third just seconds after equalizing . Malcom received a superb through ball from Cancelo and was brought down in the penalty area, but he had come out pinpoint offside. City pushed hard and came close to scoring with a Manuel Akanji header saved off the line in the 84th minute. Rubén Días and Haaland also had chances, though the last went to Al-Hilal. Marcos Leonardo, in the 96th minute, delayed his shot and missed, but extra time was already a victory for the Saudi side.

Al-Hilal took a brave gamble, and from a set piece, they struck again. In the fourth minute, Neves sent in a perfect cross that Koulibaly capitalized on to head past Ederson . Guardiola found himself back against the wall. He brought Phil Foden out of his own net, shortly after passing to Cherki . And this duo created the 3-3 goal. The former Lyon player crossed for the English gem, who finished and equalized with his left foot. Barely 180 seconds had passed and City seemed to have the wind in their sails again. But it was not to be. Al-Hilal had the strength to earn another chance, and this time Marcos Leonardo made no mistake . He completed his brace, took off his shirt, and took Al-Hilal to the quarterfinals.