Underdogs Flip the Script at the Club World Cup
No one expected Manchester City to get knocked out in the Club World Cup quarter-final—not when you've got Erling Haaland up front and a recent 5-2 thrashing of Juventus fresh in your memory. But that’s exactly what happened in a wild, extra-time rollercoaster against Al Hilal, with the Saudi club showing the kind of nerve and tactical sharpness that usually defines City on their best nights.
The game started true to form. Bernardo Silva put City ahead within the first ten minutes, easing any nerves among their fans. Yet it didn’t take long for things to unravel. Marcos Leonardo, Al Hilal’s energetic forward, snatched an equalizer just after halftime. Malcom hammered in another, flipping the mood in the stadium—and maybe sending a few City staff scrambling for Plan B.
City, sparked by their talisman Haaland, struck back in the 55th. It looked like this European powerhouse would just flex their muscles and walk over the finish line. But things stayed chaotic. Al Hilal, marshaled by Simone Inzaghi, refused to bow out. They hit City where it hurt: set-pieces and rapid transitions. Koulibaly, who’s known for his towering headers, powered in a goal in the 94th minute—Al Hilal taking the lead deep into extra time.
Nothing was settled, though. Phil Foden clawed City back into it with another equalizer in the 116th. But anyone thinking this would just end in penalties didn’t count on Leonardo’s persistence. He smashed home the winner in the 113th—his second of the night—and sent Al Hilal over the moon. City, for once, looked dazed and outmaneuvered.
Team News and Tactical Surprises
Al Hilal put out a strong lineup: Yassine Bounou between the sticks gave them reliability, and their back line featured João Cancelo—on loan from City—alongside the ever-reliable Koulibaly. The midfield, fired by Rúben Neves and Sergej Milinković-Savić, stuffed the middle of the pitch and gave Salem Al-Dawsari freedom to roam and create when the tempo shifted.
Pep Guardiola, always hunting for control, trusted his best: Haaland, Silva, Rodri. But even with star power, City’s defense just couldn’t plug the leaks. Set-piece marking was loose, and whenever Al Hilal kicked into gear with a quick counter, City’s backline looked rattled. Haaland did what Haaland does—finding the net—but he relied on supply lines that were choked for much of the game by Inzaghi’s compact setup.
What really stood out? The effectiveness of Al Hilal’s pressing and their willingness to send numbers forward on the break. City, used to dictating tempo, found themselves reacting and chasing. The real story wasn’t just the goals—it was the way the Saudi side, under their new manager, executed their plan and outmaneuvered City where it mattered most.
So much for predictions. Analysts didn’t give Al Hilal more than a puncher’s chance, but they played like the favorites in the crucial moments. For Manchester City and their fans, this one will sting. But for Al Hilal and their supporters, it’s a night they won’t forget—turning what should’ve been just another step in City’s trophy march into a wild, unforgettable FIFA Club World Cup upset.
Write a comment