Manchester City Crash Out After Al-Hilal’s Dramatic Comeback
No one saw this coming. In a stadium buzzing with anticipation in Orlando, Manchester City—a team used to walking over its rivals—was left stunned as Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia sent them packing from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The 4-3 extra-time thriller will go down as one of the wildest upsets in the tournament’s short history.
City started with their usual swagger. Bernardo Silva, looking as sharp as ever, found the net inside the 10-minute mark and set the tone. Most thought it would spark a routine win, but Al-Hilal had other ideas. The second half flipped the script. In the blink of an eye, Marcos Leonardo—on fire throughout the night—and Malcom struck back, putting the Saudi side ahead. Leonardo’s quick feet kept City’s defenders chasing shadows, and Malcom’s cool finish after a sharp counter sent shockwaves through the City bench.
Erling Haaland, always up for drama, fired City level with a trademark close-range blast, making sure the tension never dipped. But after 90 minutes, nothing separated these two sides. That’s when the madness truly kicked in.
Heroics, Heartbreaks, and the Rise of Al-Hilal
Kalidou Koulibaly, known for his defensive grit, found himself celebrating in the other box early in extra time, nudging Al-Hilal ahead again with a determined finish during a scrappy corner. But City, never ones to fade quietly, hit back. Phil Foden, reaching a personal milestone with his 100th goal for the club, slotted calmly to tie things up yet again. His celebration barely finished when more drama unfolded.
With penalties looming, it was Leonardo who stole the spotlight for good—his cool left-footed finish in the dying seconds of extra time capped his best performance yet. City threw everyone forward in desperation, and when Savinho broke through in stoppage time, it looked like one last twist might be on the cards. Not if Yassine Bounou had anything to say about it. The Al-Hilal keeper produced a massive save, sprawling low to keep out Savinho’s shot with what seemed like the last touch of the game.
Bounou was a giant all night, denying City with a string of stops. His reactions frustrated both Jeremy Doku and Savinho, who each had moments where they could’ve turned the game back in City’s favor. But Al-Hilal’s game plan kept City on the back foot—whenever City pressed forward, Al-Hilal blitzed them on the counter, using their speed and precision to carve open space at will.
This result is a wake-up call to Europe’s top clubs. Al-Hilal aren’t just making up the numbers; they’re here to play, upset the order, and now, with a Club World Cup semi-final place secured, send a message that the new global power balance isn’t just talk. Their fans won’t forget this night. Neither will anyone who saw giants toppled in Orlando.