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SCMP Sport

Agencies

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal knocked Premier League giants Manchester City out of the Fifa Club World Cup on Tuesday, winning their last-16 clash 4-3 after extra time.
Simone Inzaghi’s side initially came from behind, then took the lead three times before eventually securing a famous and thrilling victory.
The game finished 2-2 at full time, but at the end of an eventful extra 30 minutes, Marcos Leonardo’s 112th-minute winner had secured one of the biggest wins in Middle Eastern football history.
City had come into the match as one of the favourites for the competition after completing the group stage as the only team with a 100 per cent record.
“We defeated a very, very strong team,” Inzaghi said. “That looked impossible yesterday.

“We had to be extraordinary because, well, Manchester City – we all know that team. So we had to climb Everest without oxygen to win the game and we made it.
“We were great. All the players were exceptional in everything: in the possession phase, non-possession phase,” added the former Inter Milan coach whose previous club were defeated by Fluminense just hours before the kick-off at Camping World Stadium.
Bernardo Silva gave Pep Guardiola’s side a first-half lead before Leonardo equalised just after half-time, and Malcom put the last remaining Asian team ahead shortly after.
Erling Haaland’s equaliser sent the match to extra time, but Kalidou Koulibaly restored Al-Hilal’s lead on 94 minutes – only for Phil Foden to make it 3-3 just before the interval.
However, Leonardo eventually got the winner eight minutes from the end, turning in an Ederson parry from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header.
Al-Hilal also had goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to thank as he made 10 saves to deny the former European champions.

“It’s a pity,” Guardiola said afterwards. “We’ll have to continue.
“I still have the feeling this team is doing well. We’ll go home and have time to rest.”
Inzaghi had been in charge of the team for only a few days before the opening game, when his side drew with Real Madrid, and said the credit for the performance belongs with the players.
“It is barely three weeks that we are together and you can see the level of application; they really put the effort in. As a coach, clearly that is very satisfying.
“The lads delivered that performance; they have reached the quarter-finals,” he said.
The Saudi side will meet Fluminense in Orlando on Sunday after the Brazilian side’s shock 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the last 16.


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Fifa

Club World Cup: Saudi club Al-Hilal knock out Man City after extra time

Al-Hilal players celebrate as Manchester City’ players look stunned after their round-of-16 match at the Fifa Club World Cup at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Marcos Leonardo (second from left) scrambles in Al-Hilal’s fourth and winning goal. Photo: Reuters

Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi and Hamad Al-Yami celebrate Marcos Leonardo’s winner. Photo: Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo to play in Hong Kong? City to host Saudi Super Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract at Al-Nassr ends this month but he has indicated he may stay at the Saudi club. Photo: AFP

Karim Benzema (front, centre) leads Al-Ittihad celebrations after their King Cup final win. Photo: AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring for Portugal in this month’s Nations League final. Photo: dpa

Cristiano Ronaldo renews contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr until 2027

Cristiano Ronaldo with Al-Nassr chairman, Abdullah Almajeed, after signing a two-year contract extension with the Saudi Arabian club. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Football

‘We had to climb Everest without oxygen,’ says coach of Asia’s last remaining club after upset of English giants in thrilling last-16 clash


‘We had to climb Everest without oxygen,’ says coach of Asia’s last remaining club after upset of English giants in thrilling last-16 clash.


Saudi Pro League

Saudi Arabia

English Premier League

Pep Guardiola

Club World Cup: Saudi club Al-Hilal knock out Man City after extra time

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘We had to climb Everest without oxygen,’ says coach of Asia’s last remaining club after upset of English giants in thrilling last-16 clash

‘We had to climb Everest without oxygen,’ says coach of Asia’s last remaining club after upset of English giants in thrilling last-16 clash