Man City knocked out of Club World Cup by Al Hilal in seven-goal thriller

6 days ago 4

Manchester City crashed out of the Club World Cup as Al Hilal snatched a stunning 4-3 victory in extra-time of a pulsating last-16 match in Orlando.

Marcos Leonardo grabbed his second goal with 112 minutes on the clock as the Saudi Arabian side produced a major upset.

Bernardo Silva gave City a ninth-minute lead, but Pep Guardiola's side were punished for missing a series of chances as Leonardo and ex-Barcelona winger Malcom replied after the break.

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Erling Haaland sent the game to extra-time, but City needed another equaliser from Phil Foden after ex-Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly headed Al Hilal back ahead.

City, who were caught repeatedly on the break, were undone again as Leonardo had the final say, and the Saudi side will now play Fluminense for a place in the semi-finals after the Brazilian side shocked Inter Milan in the last 16.

City's defeat ended hopes of a potential all-English semi-final meeting against Chelsea, with the Blues taking on Brazilian side Palmeiras on Friday in Philadelphia (kick-off on Saturday at 2am UK time).

How City were stunned by Al Hilal

Guardiola, having taken the competition seriously, will rue a wasteful first-half display as his side started quickly with Ruben Dias heading straight at ex-Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

The opening goal soon came, although it proved highly controversial with complaints of handball against Rayan Ait-Nouri and Ilkay Gundogan, before Silva poked past Bounou.

Bernardo Silva opens the scoring for Manchester City in their Club World Cup last-16 match against Al Hilal

City should have extended their lead before half-time, but Bounou denied Savinho, Gundogan, Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku.

City were then punished for their profligacy as Al Hilal struck twice in the first seven minutes of the second half.

The equaliser came as former City full-back Joao Cancelo drove in a low cross, City goalkeeper Ederson pushed away, and Malcom's attempt on the rebound was blocked, but the ball looped up for Leonardo to head in.

City were stung again moments later as Al Hilal quickly recycled the ball from a corner they were defending before Malcom broke from halfway and buried a low shot into the far corner in the 52nd minute.

But City equalised just three minutes later as Silva's corner led to a goalmouth scramble and Haaland pounced from close range to level, but, far from settling nerves, the Premier League side remained vulnerable.

Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal in the Club World Cup last-16 match against Al Hilal

Malcom was brought down by Dias for what seemed a certain penalty, only for an offside flag to spare City. It also took a good recovery tackle by Manuel Akanji to prevent Malcom from getting in another shot, and Mohamed Kanno fluffed a free header.

City were inches away as Akanji headed against the post, and Haaland's follow-up was cleared off the line as the game headed to extra-time.

City, who lost Haaland to injury, were stunned when Al Hilal reclaimed the lead with Koulibaly's powerful header.

Yet the drama was far from over as Foden, having come off the bench to replace another substitute in the ineffective Rodri, exquisitely volleyed in from a Rayan Cherki cross.

Al Hilal refused to lie down and scored yet again as Leonardo pounced to settle the contest after Ederson had pushed away a header from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.