Manchester City’s run in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup ended unexpectedly with a 3-2 defeat to Al-Hilal.
Pep Guardiola’s squad went into halftime tied 1-1 after Bernardo Silva scored in the ninth minute. Marcos Leonardo equalized for Al-Hilal shortly after the second half began, and Malcolm gave them the lead six minutes later. City quickly responded with a goal from Erling Haaland just three minutes later, taking the match into extra time with a score of 2-2.
Kalidou Koulibaly put the Saudi club ahead again in the first period of extra time, but Phil Foden equalized ten minutes later. However, it was Leonardo who ultimately secured the victory for Al-Hilal, scoring his second goal and clinching their spot in the quarterfinals.
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**Fan Take:** This surprising result highlights the unpredictability of knockout tournaments, reminding fans that any team can emerge victorious on a given day. For City, this defeat could signal a need for strategic reassessment as they aim to remain competitive on multiple fronts.
