ORLANDO -On a humid night in Florida, Saudi champions Al Hilal did the unthinkable-knocking European giants Manchester City out of the FIFA Club World Cup in a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory.
It was a match full of twists, wild swings in momentum, and moments that will be remembered as some of the most dramatic in the tournament’s history.
City, the reigning Club World Cup holders, looked in control early. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the ninth minute after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s delivery from the left, though replays suggested a possible handball in the build-up. Al Hilal protested, but the goal stood.
For much of the first half, it was a familiar story: City dominating possession, creating chances, but unable to put the game to bed. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, named Man of the Match, produced a string of fine saves-denying Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva, and Erling Haaland.
“I think we had enough chances to kill the game,” said City captain Bernardo Silva. “But we didn’t manage the transitions well. They hit us when we were open.”
The second half brought a different story. Within minutes of the restart, Al Hilal equalised. A quick break saw Marcos Leonardo head home after a scramble in the box. Moments later, Brazilian forward Malcom put the Saudis ahead with a cool finish after racing onto a long ball behind City’s high line.
Stung, City fought back. Haaland, after being kept quiet most of the night, pounced on a loose ball from a corner to level at 2-2. But Bounou and his defence continued to stand tall, with substitute Ali Lajami even clearing off the line to deny Haaland a second.
As the match headed into extra time, Guardiola rang the changes, swapping Haaland for Omar Marmoush. But it was Al Hilal who struck first again-Kalidou Koulibaly meeting Ruben Neves’ corner with a thumping header to make it 3-2.
City weren’t done. A beautifully floated cross from Rayan Cherki found Phil Foden, who squeezed in a smart finish at the back post to level things at 3-3.
Still, the last word belonged to Marcos Leonardo. After Milinkovic-Savic’s header was parried by Ederson, Leonardo reacted fastest, nudging the ball over the line to send Al Hilal fans into raptures.
Tears streamed down the striker’s face as the final whistle blew. “My mother was in ICU for 70 days,” he said, emotional. “She’s okay now, thank God. When I scored, I thought of her.”
For Al Hilal, this was more than a football match. It was a statement. A club from the Saudi Pro League had taken down one of Europe’s most dominant sides on the global stage.
They now advance to face Brazilian champions Fluminense in the quarterfinals, ensuring at least one non-European team reaches the final four.
As for Guardiola’s City, it’s an early exit few saw coming.
“They ran too many times,” Bernardo Silva admitted. “We didn’t control it. And in this kind of competition, you get punished.”
In Orlando, the balance of power shifted—at least for one night. And Al Hilal made history.
