Manchester City’s quest to defend their FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) title came to a dramatic and unexpected halt in Orlando, as Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal staged a remarkable 4-3 comeback victory in extra time, ending Pep Guardiola’s flawless winning record in the competition.
The match began with pre-match favourites Manchester City taking an early, albeit controversial, lead in the ninth minute. Bernardo Silva tapped home from close range after a clearance was blocked into his path by Ilkay Gundogan. A swift VAR review for a handball against the German was dismissed, but the replay displayed on the stadium’s big screen ignited furious protests from Al Hilal players, causing a significant delay to the restart.
Despite their sense of injustice, Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal side struggled to test Ederson in the City goal, failing to register a shot on target before the break. At the other end, Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, making a string of crucial saves to deny City a second goal. Erling Haaland saw a header tipped over, while sharp reflex saves thwarted Savinho and Jeremy Doku, keeping the deficit at a manageable one goal heading into half-time.
Bounou’s heroics proved even more significant as Al Hilal emerged from the break with renewed vigour, staging a stunning turnaround within seven minutes of the restart. Marcos Leonardo scrambled in an equalizer after City failed to clear a cross from the right wing. Moments later, Malcom burst from his own half, sprinting clear to slot past Ederson and give the Saudi side a shock lead.
Al Hilal’s jubilation was short-lived, lasting just three minutes, as Erling Haaland slammed home an equalizer in the 55th minute after Inzaghi’s men failed to clear a corner. The chaotic nature of the contest continued when Malcom believed he had won a penalty immediately after City’s fourth goal, only for VAR to rule it out for a marginal offside in the build-up.
As players visibly tired, the game’s tempo dropped, and extra time seemed inevitable. Ali Lajami produced an outstanding goalline clearance to deny Haaland a late winner, ensuring the match extended beyond 90 minutes.
Despite looking exhausted at the end of regulation time, Al Hilal started extra time with a flourish. Rúben Neves’ pinpoint corner was brilliantly headed past a helpless Ederson by Kalidou Koulibaly, restoring Al Hilal’s lead. Guardiola responded by introducing Phil Foden, and the substitution paid immediate dividends as Foden produced an outstanding first-time finish from Rayan Cherki’s stunning cross to level the score at 3-3.
With both sides physically flagging, Al Hilal delivered the decisive blow in the 113th minute. Ederson made an outstanding one-handed save to deny Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, but the rebound fell directly into the path of Marcos Leonardo, who bundled the ball into the net to secure a famous 4-3 victory.
Al Hilal now progresses to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will face Fluminense.
