Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal have despatched English giants Manchester Metropolis crashing out of the Membership World Cup, snatching a shock 4-3 victory in further time within the largest upset of the event thus far.
The match completed 2-2 at full-time on Monday, however on the finish of an eventful extra-time, Marcos Leonardo grabbed the winner and pulled off one of many biggest wins in Center Japanese soccer historical past.
The Saudi membership now advance to the quarterfinals, the place they’ll face Brazilian membership Fluminense, guaranteeing a non-European group will attain the final 4.
Man Metropolis had taken the lead within the ninth minute in controversial vogue, with Bernardo Silva ending after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross.
Al Hilal gamers protested that Ait-Nouri had managed along with his arm within the build-up, however the aim stood.
Man Metropolis had loads of alternatives to increase their lead earlier than the break, however a mixture of poor ending and impressed goalkeeping from Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved the lead at a single aim.
Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was one of many heroes for Al Hilal as he blocked a number of possibilities from Manchester Metropolis, together with one from Erling Haaland (Patricia Del Mero Moreira/AFP)
Al Hilal provided a number of reminders of their menace on the break however Man Metropolis had much more possibilities, with Jeremy Doku volleying straight at Bounou, who moments later reacted beautifully once more to maintain out a Bernardo effort.
The query as as to whether Man Metropolis would reside to remorse not changing these possibilities was answered inside a minute of the resumption.
Former Metropolis full-back Joao Cancelo’s low cross was parried out by Ederson. Malcolm pounced however noticed his shot blocked by Ruben Dias, just for the ball to loop to Marcos Leonardo to go residence the equaliser.
Six minutes later, and Metropolis’s excessive defensive position was uncovered by an extended ball from Cancelo, which Brazilian Malcolm raced onto, exhibiting energy and tempo as he broke away earlier than coolly slotting previous Ederson.
The Saudi followers within the crowd went wild whereas Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola responded instantly with a triple substitution, with midfielder Rodri and defenders Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji launched.
That introduced some much-needed stability to a shaky again line however Metropolis wanted enchancment on the different finish too, and it got here, albeit in scruffy circumstances.
The Al Hilal defence have been unable to cope with a Bernardo nook and Haaland pounced to steer residence the free ball and make it 2-2.
Metropolis piled on the strain as they appeared for the winner however but once more Bounou proved their nemesis as he denied Akanji and Ruben Dias, and even when he was overwhelmed by Haaland, substitute Ali Lajami produced an impressive goal-line clearance.
Guardiola took off Haaland and launched Egyptian ahead Omar Marmoush as the sport went into further time.
However for all Metropolis’s depth, Al Hilal had a deep nicely of spirit to attract upon. Simply 4 minutes into the opening interval, Al Hilal regained the lead when Kalidou Koulibaly rose beautifully to satisfy a Ruben Neves nook with a brilliantly angled header.
Metropolis responded with a aim of actual high quality when Rayan Cherki’s brilliantly floated ball in the direction of the again publish was poked residence masterfully by Phil Foden, at full stretch and from the tightest of angles.
However extremely, Al Hilal responded once more to revive their lead: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header was saved by Ederson however Marcos Leonardo adopted in to bundle the ball over the road.
Because the celebrating Al Hilal followers poured out of the stadium, the Brazilian striker let his feelings pour out, too.
“I’ve had a tough time within the final two months. My mom spent 70 days within the ICU,” he stated.
“Right this moment, she’s high quality, thank God. After I scored these two objectives, I considered her. She was in a position to watch the match.”
Metropolis skipper Bernardo Silva stated his group had paid the worth for being unable to cope with Al Hilal’s counter-attacking.
“We scored three and will’ve scored 5, six. It was all about controlling after we misplaced the ball, controlling the transitions, don’t allow them to run, they usually ran method too many occasions,” he stated.
“With one, two passes, there was all the time a sense of hazard coming from them. Once we enable groups to run like this, we all the time undergo quite a bit, and at present was the case,” he stated.
Al Hilal gamers have a good time their win over Manchester Metropolis on the finish of the match (John Raoux/AP)
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