In a rollercoaster round-of-16 match played at the sweltering Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Al-Hilal delivered one of the greatest upsets in tournament history, scoring twice in extra time to send Manchester City packing.
Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo sealed the game with his second goal in the 112th minute, completing an unforgettable performance that left the English champions in shock.
Manchester City the reigning European champions were knocked out in a dramatic 4-3 defeat by Saudi giants Al-Hilal. What was supposed to be a routine win for Pep Guardiola’s men turned into a night of chaos, missed chances, and a comeback Al-Hilal will never forget.
From the start, the game had everything. Manchester City Club World Cup exit wasn’t on anyone’s mind when Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the 9th minute after a scrappy scramble in the box. VAR controversy followed immediately, with Al-Hilal players claiming handball in the buildup. But the referee stood firm, and the goal stood.
Despite dominating possession (71.3%), City failed to capitalize on numerous clear-cut chances. Savinho, Gundogan, and Gvardiol all had golden opportunities to put the game out of reach, but Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou kept them alive with some heroic saves. The wastefulness would prove costly.
Just seconds into the second half, Manchester City Club World Cup exit began to take shape. Al-Hilal equalized through Marcos Leonardo, who pounced on a rebound after Ederson blocked Malcolm’s initial shot. Moments later, Malcolm himself broke free on a counterattack to make it 2-1, sending the Saudi supporters into a frenzy.
City responded through Erling Haaland, who equalized after a scramble from a corner kick. It was now 2-2, and with both sides pushing for a winner, extra time loomed.
Then came the chaos.
In the 94th minute, Kalidou Koulibaly rose highest to head home from a Ruben Neves corner, giving Al-Hilal a 3-2 lead. But City weren’t done. Eight minutes later, Phil Foden – who had bizarrely been benched until then – scored a stunning volley to make it 3-3 and reach his 100th goal for the club. It looked like penalties were on the way.
But just when City thought they had a grip on the game again, Renan Lodi sent in a curling cross from the left. Sergej Milinković-Savić rose to meet it, Ederson parried, and Marcos Leonardo was there once more to finish – 4-3, game over, hearts broken.
RECOMMENDED:
For Guardiola, this result will sting. His decision to leave key players like Foden, Rodri, and Rayan Cherki on the bench raised eyebrows. By the time he introduced them, the damage had already been done. Rodri’s brief appearance ended early due to injury, adding more pain to City’s misery.
The loss also cost City a place in the quarter-finals – and a potential £9.6 million in prize money. Instead, Al-Hilal advances to face fellow Brazilian side Fluminense in what promises to be another thrilling encounter.
What’s even more impressive is that Al-Hilal pulled this off without their captain Salem Al-Dawsari and star striker Aleksandar Mitrović. New manager Simone Inzaghi, barely two weeks into the job, masterminded the victory with a disciplined five-man backline and a lethal counter-attacking game plan.
It’s a night that will go down in Al-Hilal’s history – and one City fans will want to forget.
Tactical Confusion and Missed Opportunities
One of the biggest surprises of the Manchester City Club World Cup exit was the tactical confusion from Pep Guardiola. Despite fielding big names like Gundogan, Haaland, and Bernardo Silva, the team lacked urgency and sharpness in both halves. City’s usual rhythm and high pressing looked out of sync, especially against a side willing to soak pressure and strike on the break.
The defence, once again, was exposed. Koulibaly’s goal came from a set-piece where Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake completely lost their markers. Ederson made several crucial saves, but even he couldn’t stop the waves of Al-Hilal attacks in the final minutes.
The Manchester City Club World Cup exit raises tough questions. Are Guardiola’s tactics becoming too predictable? Was he too slow in bringing on his creative stars? And can City recover quickly ahead of a busy domestic and European calendar?
With Rodri’s injury and a long flight home ahead, there’s little time to regroup. Guardiola will be under pressure to find answers – and fast.
Al-Hilal’s Night of Glory
On the flip side, Al-Hilal’s performance was nothing short of heroic. From goalkeeper Bounou’s saves to Leonardo’s clinical finishing, every player stepped up. Inzaghi’s tactical setup worked to perfection, neutralizing City’s threats while taking advantage of every defensive lapse.
