Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal Send Manchester City Crashing Out of Club World Cup

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Manchester City are out of the FIFA Club World Cup after falling to Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal at the end of a seven-goal thriller in Florida on Monday, setting up a previously unlikely quarter-final date against Fluminense of Brazil.

Pep Guardiola’s side showed intent from the start and came close to breaking the deadlock after six minutes when Jeremy Doku’s cross from the left found Ruben Dias from close range. But the City defender’s header went straight at Bounou in the Al Hilal goal.

But it was not long before City were ahead as Bernardo Silva put the Premier League side ahead after just nine minutes of action at the Camping World Stadium, latching on to a loose ball as the Saudi Pro League side failed to clear their lines.

Savinho sent a curling effort over while Doku’s cross-shot evaded Erling Haaland midway through the first half as City threatened to double their lead. Bounou then made three saves over a four-minute span to keep Al Hilal in the game.

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Bounou’s first-half heroics between the sticks proved decisive as the Saudi Pro League side in the second period as Marcos Leonardo equalised for Al Hilal in the 46th minute, before Malcom put Inzaghi’s side ahead six minutes later at the end of a counter-attack after being set up by former City full-back, Joao Cancelo.

City wasted no time to get back on level terms through Haaland who scrambled the ball home from close range in the 55th minute. Malcom thought he’d won Al Hilal a penalty a minute later but the appeals were waved off for offside in the build-up to the moment as both sides settled for a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes.

Former Chelsea defender, Kalidou Koulibaly headed Al Hilal back in front two minutes into extra time, but City found a way back 10 minutes later when Phil Foden beat Bounou at the near post off Ryan Cherki’s ball over the top into the Al Hilal box.

But the winning moment came after 112 minutes when Renan Lodi’s cross into the box was headed towards goal by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. City keeper, Ederson, made the save but Leonardo was on hand to tap home the rebound from close range.

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