Al Hilal Stuns Manchester City 4-3 in Extra Time to Reach Club World Cup Quarterfinals in Historic Upset

In one of the most stunning shocks in Club World Cup history, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal eliminated reigning champions Manchester City with a thrilling 4-3 victory after extra time on Monday night at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.

The match ended 2-2 in regulation before Al Hilal’s Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo scored twice in extra time, including the decisive goal in the 112th minute, to seal a remarkable win for the Saudi club.

Manchester City took an early lead in the 9th minute through Bernardo Silva, though the goal was contentious due to an alleged handball in the buildup. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, City was repeatedly denied by Al Hilal’s Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who made several crucial saves.

Al Hilal’s quick counterattacks paid off early in the second half with goals from Marcos Leonardo and Malcom within six minutes, turning the game on its head. Erling Haaland equalised for City shortly after, making it 2-2.

Extra time saw Al Hilal regain the lead through Kalidou Koulibaly’s powerful header from a Ruben Neves corner. Phil Foden responded with City’s 100th goal for the club to level again, but Marcos Leonardo’s persistence paid off as he scored the winner following a rebound off Ederson’s save.

This victory propels Al Hilal into the quarterfinals against Brazilian side Fluminense, who themselves caused an upset by knocking out Inter Milan. This guarantees a non-European team will reach the semifinals of the tournament.

Al Hilal’s coach, Simone Inzaghi, who recently took charge after a Champions League final defeat with Inter Milan, praised his team’s resilience, describing the win as “climbing Mount Everest without oxygen.” Marcos Leonardo dedicated his performance to his mother, who had been critically ill but is now recovering.

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva acknowledged the team’s failure to manage Al Hilal’s rapid counterattacks as a key factor in the defeat, despite their offensive dominance and multiple scoring chances.

This result marks a historic milestone for Middle Eastern football and sends shockwaves through the football world, as Al Hilal’s spirited performance dismantled one of Europe’s strongest sides on a global stage.