Head coach Pep Guardiola experiences a debacle with Manchester City at the Club World Cup. Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia knocked Manuel Akanji and Co. out of the tournament after a thrilling 4:3.
01.07.2025, 07:25
01.07.2025, 07:26
SDA
Pep Guardiola briefly congratulated his overjoyed colleague Simone Inzaghi on the sensational victory, before the Spanish Manchester City coach fled to the stadium catacombs. "It's a real shame, we were in such a good position," said the disappointed Guardiola. The blatant outsiders Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia caused a real sensation in the round of 16 at the Club World Cup in the USA in a gripping football thriller.
The outstanding attacker Marcos Leonardo became the match-winner for the Saudi Arabian team with his second goal in the 112th minute of the match. Earlier, Phil Foden (104') had equalized the 3:2 lead of Al-Hilal through Kalidou Koulibaly (94').
Bernardo Silva (9) and Erling Haaland (55) had scored for ManCity in normal time. Marcos Leonardo (46) and Malcom (52) turned the game around in just seven minutes after the break. Goalkeeper Bono had kept the underdogs in the game until half-time. The Moroccan made several splendid saves.
Seven goals and a lot of back and forth: the Camping World Stadium in Orlando was buzzing, the fans were thrilled. Right in the middle of the action: Defender Manuel Akanji, who came on as a substitute for the Cityzens in the 53rd minute. As he was one of the surprise losers in the end, Gregor Kobel is the only Swiss player left in the tournament. The BVB goalie will play in the round of 16 against Monterrey on Wednesday night.
Al-Hilal's victory was also the work of new coach Simone Inzaghi, who moved to Saudi Arabia after losing 5-0 to Paris Saint-Germain with Inter Milan in the Champions League final at the end of May. Surprisingly, the 49-year-old Italian will not face his former club in the quarter-finals, but Fluminense. The Brazilians had beaten Inter 2:0 hours earlier. An outsider will therefore certainly be in the semi-finals.
