Players of Al Hilal celebrating after the win
Manchester City’s dreams of conquering the Club World Cup were left in ruins last night as Saudi giants Al Hilal pulled off a breathtaking 4-3 victory after extra-time in Orlando.
Pep Guardiola’s side looked to be cruising when Bernardo Silva swept them ahead inside nine minutes, but a night of missed chances and ruthless counter-attacks turned the script upside down.
Al Hilal, buoyed by a raucous travelling support, equalised after the break through Marcos Leonardo, and when Malcom, once of Barcelona, danced through to make it 2-1, the shock was well and truly on.
City, stunned and wasteful in front of goal, threw on Erling Haaland, and the Norwegian did what he does best, bulldozing home a dramatic leveller to force extra-time.
Yet even then, City’s defensive frailties were cruelly exposed. Kalidou Koulibaly, the ex-Chelsea defender, rose highest to head Al Hilal back into the lead, only for Phil Foden to drag the Premier League champions back level again with a crisp strike.
But just as penalties loomed, Al Hilal struck one final, fatal blow. Marcos Leonardo latched onto a blistering counter and coolly slotted past Ederson for his second goal of the night, sealing one of the greatest upsets in Club World Cup history.
City, who had been dreaming of an all-English semi-final showdown with Chelsea, will instead fly home wondering how their world conquest turned into a nightmare under the Florida lights.
Al Hilal march on to face Brazilian side Fluminense, who themselves stunned Inter Milan, for a place in the last four.
Watch highlights of the game below:
FKA/EB
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