Al-Hilal oust Manchester City from Club World Cup in extra time
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Saudi Gazette
36 minutes ago
- Saudi Gazette
Al Hilal stuns Man City and stirs the world: ‘One of the greatest nights in Saudi club football'
Saudi Gazette report ORLANDO — Al Hilal's stunning 4-3 extra-time victory over English powerhouse Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup sent shockwaves through global football, but for seasoned followers of Asian football and the Roshn Saudi League, it felt like a long-overdue statement on the world stage. The Riyadh giants, who boast a record number of AFC Champions League titles, pulled off one of the most remarkable results in the competition's history Monday night in Orlando. With goals from Marcos Leonardo (2), Malcom, and Kalidou Koulibaly, Al Hilal outlasted the reigning UEFA Champions League winners in a pulsating round-of-16 clash. Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi praised his squad's heart and tactical discipline, declaring: 'The key to this result are the players, the heart they put on the pitch. Tonight, we had to do something extraordinary because we knew how good Manchester City are. We knew we had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen and we were great.' He added: 'We played with strong determination. They deserved it. They fought for every ball, and it gives satisfaction to the family of Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia, and the fans here with us.' Senegalese center-back Kalidou Koulibaly, who nodded home Al Hilal's third goal in extra time, said: 'We knew it would be a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world and we wanted to show our ideas, our talents, and our power. We took our chances, and we can be happy.' Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo, the match's two-goal hero, delivered an emotional tribute: 'I've had a difficult time in the last two months. My mother spent 70 days in the ICU. Today she's fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her — she was able to watch the match. If they weren't watching, I wouldn't be here today.' While international media hailed the result as 'a shock,' it was instead a confirmation for Saudi football insiders: Al Hilal are not just participants — they're contenders. With the Saudi Pro League investing heavily in infrastructure, player development, and global talent, Monday night's victory underscored the Kingdom's ambitions to become a serious force in world football.
Saudi Gazette
42 minutes ago
- Saudi Gazette
Milinković-Savić says Al Hilal proved critics wrong after historic win over Man City
Saudi Gazette report ORLANDO — Al Hilal's Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić hailed his team's stunning 4-3 victory over Manchester City as a 'statement to the world,' declaring that the Saudi Pro League's quality is undeniable and that the club has written a new chapter in football history. Speaking after the match in Orlando, which sent Al Hilal into the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, Savic said: 'We've made history tonight. It was a massive game and a huge result. For anyone who doubts our league, we've shown on the pitch that the Saudi league is strong — we proved it to the world.' The 29-year-old, who joined Al Hilal in summer of 2023 amid some skepticism over his move to the Roshn Saudi League, emphasized that the win was not only about individual talent but collective spirit. 'We were missing several key players, which is never ideal,' he admitted. 'But our squad is deep and full of quality. Everyone who stepped onto the pitch played at a high level and helped us overcome one of the best teams in the world.' He also shared insight into the team's mindset: 'Now it's all about recovery for the next match. It's not just about celebrations. City is a team that creates constant attacking pressure, but we stayed compact, defended with heart, and stuck together as a unit. At halftime, the coach encouraged us to keep going because we were doing well.'Savic pointedly addressed earlier criticism surrounding his move to Saudi Arabia: 'A lot of people had things to say when I joined the league. What happened tonight, and our performances against Real Madrid and Salzburg, is the best answer to those critics.'Looking ahead, Savic acknowledged the challenge posed by Brazilian side Fluminense, who eliminated Champions League finalists Inter Milan in their previous match: 'Any team that knocks out Inter is a serious opponent. We respect them, but we'll be fully prepared.'He concluded: 'The key in these games is to believe. That's what we did tonight we believed, and that belief carried us through.'
Saudi Gazette
4 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Inzaghi hails ‘historic' Al Hilal win over Man City: We climbed a mountain with no oxygen
Saudi Gazette report ORLANDO — Al Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi described his side's dramatic 4-3 extra-time triumph over Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 as a 'historic performance,' praising his players' spirit and tactical execution in what he called one of the biggest wins of his career. Speaking at the post-match press conference in Orlando, the Italian tactician said: 'I congratulate the players for a fantastic performance. We beat a very strong team. We played with intensity, clarity, and heart. This victory brought great joy to Al Hilal and to Saudi Arabia. We'll enjoy the moment, recover well, and prepare for the quarterfinal.' Inzaghi, who took over Al Hilal earlier this summer, praised the character of his squad in the absence of key defender Hassan Tambakti: 'It wasn't easy without Tambakti, but Leonardo and Lodi were excellent at the back. The whole team deserves this win.' The former Inter Milan coach also revealed the physical toll of the contest: 'It's never easy to prepare players physically for such intense matches, but our staff, whom I've worked with for 10 years, did an exceptional job tactically and physically. We'll need to recover quickly, especially ahead of facing a very strong Fluminense side.' One of the game's standout moments came from Senegalese center-back Kalidou Koulibaly, who scored a header from a set-piece, a detail Inzaghi credited to careful planning: 'We worked a lot on set pieces. The staff deserves full credit.' Asked about his post-match interaction with City boss Pep Guardiola, Inzaghi said: 'He came to congratulate me. There's mutual respect. Facing Manchester City was like climbing a mountain without oxygen. The players made it happen.' Inzaghi showered praise on individual performers including Joao Cancelo, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Rúben Neves, Malcom, Koulibaly, and goal-scoring hero Marcos Leonardo. He also saluted his Saudi core: 'Nasser played an incredible match, and the same goes for Al Yami, Al Bulayhi, and Al Laajami. Everyone gave their best.' He added that Serbian midfielder Milinković-Savić was particularly instrumental: 'Physically dominant, always present in transitions he helped a lot. Lodi, Neves, Cancelo, and Bounou all played key roles too.' When asked about what message he gave his players pre-match, Inzaghi replied: 'I told them to give everything. I told them I didn't want this to be our last match in the tournament that we were here to represent Al Hilal, and we had to show our level.' Al Hilal now face Fluminense in the quarterfinals, riding high after one of the most iconic wins in their modern history.
