Marcos Leonardo netted his second goal in the 112th minute, helping Al Hilal stun Manchester City with a 4-3 victory on Monday night, eliminating the Premier League giants from the Club World Cup’s knockout stage. The Saudi Arabian team initially led three times during an electrifying match at the Camp World Stadium. Kalidou Koulibaly gave Al Hilal a 3-2 lead in the 94th minute, but Phil Foden equalized just ten minutes later after coming off the bench.
Leonardo’s decisive moment came when Manchester City’s goalkeeper, Adason, saved a header from Sergezi Milinkovic Savic; the ball fell to Leonardo, who finished it with his right foot. Al Hilal will now face Brazilian team Fluminense, who earlier defeated Inter Milan early on Tuesday. Leonardo also contributed to a goal in the first half, leveling the score at 1-1 just after halftime.
Manchester City initially took the lead in the ninth minute with a goal from Bernardo Silva. Al Hilal’s Malcolm scored in the 52nd minute, and Erling Haaland brought it back to 2-2 just three minutes later.
In a dramatic conclusion, Manchester City nearly secured the win during additional time but had a counterattack thwarted by a controversial challenge; the referee did not call for a penalty, prompting heated arguments from City manager Pep Guardiola.
Al Hilal will challenge Fluminense for a spot in the semifinals on July 4th at Camp World Stadium.
Fan Take: This shocking upset highlights the unpredictable nature of soccer and can reignite interest in competitions like the Club World Cup. For fans, it underscores the potential for underdogs to rise against elite teams, reminiscent of classic tournament surprises.
