In a remarkable and unexpected turn of events at the FIFA Club World Cup on Monday, Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal achieved a significant victory, defeating formidable English club Manchester City with a dramatic 4-3 scoreline after extra time. This result stands as the most significant upset of the tournament thus far, leaving Al-Hilal as the only remaining team from outside Europe or South America.
Manchester City initially appeared to be in control, taking an early lead just nine minutes into the match through Bernardo Silva. The goal came during a chaotic moment near the goalmouth, where the ball seemed to deflect off Ilkay Gundogan before reaching Silva, who finished from close range. Despite strong protests from Al-Hilal players and coaching staff who claimed a handball, the goal was allowed to stand following on-field discussions.
City maintained their dominance throughout the remainder of the first half, consistently testing Al-Hilal`s defensive setup. They recorded nine shots with seven on target and an expected goals figure of 2.08. However, they were repeatedly denied by an inspired performance from Al-Hilal`s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, who made six vital saves before halftime.
The dynamic of the game shifted dramatically immediately after the break. Within the first minute of the second half, Al-Hilal found their equalizer. Following a cross into the box that City`s goalkeeper Ederson initially touched, the ball ricocheted around before falling to Marcos Leonardo, whose header, despite lacking pace, surprisingly beat Ederson to level the score.
Just six minutes later, Al-Hilal surged ahead, capitalizing on a quick counter-attack. The ball was played to Malcom, who embarked on a determined run before unleashing a powerful long-range shot that found the back of the net, giving Al-Hilal a 2-1 lead.
However, Al-Hilal`s advantage was brief. Manchester City quickly responded, with Erling Haaland scoring the equalizer just three minutes later. From a corner kick, the ball didn`t land perfectly for Haaland, but the prolific striker displayed his composure and predatory instincts, following the play closely amidst the penalty area congestion to score from close range, making it 2-2.
With the match tied at 2-2 after regulation time, the game proceeded to an intense extra 30 minutes. Al-Hilal struck first in the 94th minute when Kalidou Koulibaly powerfully headed home from a corner, restoring their lead at 3-2. The pattern of immediate replies continued, with Manchester City equalizing again ten minutes later courtesy of substitute Phil Foden, who expertly finished after receiving a sublime cross from Rayan Cherki.
The deciding goal in this high-scoring encounter came just eight minutes before the final whistle. Following a save by Ederson from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic`s header, the rebound fortuitously bounced towards Marcos Leonardo. Although he was falling, Leonardo managed to make a final touch on the ball, diverting it past the outstretched Ederson and into the net for the winning goal, securing a 4-3 victory for Al-Hilal.
Despite Manchester City`s statistical superiority – including 30 shots to Al-Hilal`s 17, 14 shots on target, and a higher expected goals tally (4.21 vs 3.16) – they were ultimately undone by Al-Hilal goalkeeper Bounou`s exceptional performance (11 saves in total) coupled with their own uncharacteristic defensive lapses. This defeat means Manchester City will finish a season without winning any major trophies for the first time since Pep Guardiola`s debut campaign in 2016.
For Al-Hilal, this victory represents a landmark achievement and a powerful statement for Saudi Arabian football, reflecting the significant investments made by the Public Investment Fund into the sport. Their success on the world stage, including bringing in high-profile players and a respected manager like Simone Inzaghi (who now has a notable win against Guardiola after losing to him in a Champions League final), underscores the league`s rising global profile.
Al-Hilal`s impressive run continues as they prepare to face Fluminense, another team that secured a surprise win (defeating Inter 2-0), in the quarterfinals scheduled for Friday in Orlando.
Dominic Ashworth