Al-Hilal struck twice in further time to beat Manchester Metropolis 4-3 and ebook their place within the Membership World Cup quarter-finals.
Pep Guardiola’s males struggled to take care of their excessive ranges from the group stage as a slack defensive show value them in a seven-goal thriller at Tenting World Stadium.
For the fourth recreation in a row, Metropolis opened the scoring within the opening 10 minutes, as Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross pinballed into Bernardo Silva’s ft, and he turned it in from shut vary.
Yassine Bounou made spectacular saves to maintain Al-Hilal within the recreation, and simply 42 seconds after the break, Marcos Leonardo scored his first of the match, guiding a header previous Ederson after Metropolis had did not clear their traces.
Malcom then put Al-Hilal in entrance 52 minutes in, although. Former Metropolis defender Joao Cancelo set the Brazilian away in his personal half, and he raced into the field earlier than slotting it into the bottom-right nook.
Three minutes later, Erling Haaland poached an equaliser, reacting quickest within the field to show in from shut vary after a nook. Manuel Akanji got here closest to a normal-time winner, heading towards the put up within the 84th minute.
However with nothing to separate the groups, Kalidou Koulibaly cushioned a looping header over Ederson 4 minutes into further time, although Phil Foden dragged Metropolis degree once more 10 minutes later, volleying a advantageous end in from the left of the six-yard field.
However, there could be one final twist as Sergej Milenkovic-Savic’s header was pushed straight at Leonardo by Ederson, and he bundled it over the road from one yard out within the 112th minute to arrange a gathering with Fluminense within the final eight.
Al Hilal be part of the #FIFACWC ultimate eight. pic.twitter.com/BpTd9egmwf
— FIFA Membership World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 1, 2025
Knowledge Debrief: Metropolis’s stutter defensively
Metropolis solely conceded two targets within the group stage of the event, with each of these being scored by Juventus within the final recreation, however they struggled to seek out their rhythm on Monday.
Al-Hilal scored as many targets towards Manchester Metropolis tonight as Guardiola’s sides had allowed within the first 11 Membership World Cup matches he was concerned in (4).
The Saudi Professional League aspect outperformed their 3.16 anticipated targets (xG) and scored with 4 of their six pictures on course.
However Metropolis could really feel it was an opportunity missed as they’d 30 makes an attempt total price 4.21 xG, with Bounou making 10 saves.
