Following Al Hilal’s group stage draw against Real Madrid, many agreed that the Saudi side played well but was rather fortunate. Perhaps after what Simone Inzaghi’s men did last night, the Blue Waves will get more well-deserved respect and appreciation.Last night, Al Hilal weren’t Blue Waves. They were the Blue Tsunami that wiped out one of the greatest favourites for the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, Manchester City, and advanced to the quarter-finals – 4-3!WHAT A MATCH 🔥👏AL-HILAL HAVE ELIMINATED MANCHESTER CITY FROM THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP MCI 3-4 HILWatch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MCIHIL pic.twitter.com/DEF2DNEvVW— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 1, 2025 The Cityzens were impeccable in the group stage, their recent reinforcements – Rayan Ait Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki – seemed to have fit in perfectly, and the return of the 2024 Ballon d’Or laureate Rodri gave an additional confidence boost to the entire team. After all, Pep Guardiola’s team conquered the group stage with three victories and a goal difference of 13-2!Still, all that didn’t matter last night, as Inzaghi’s warriors gave it all on the pitch and deservedly scheduled the quarter-final clash against Fluminense – which had earlier eliminated Inter Milan – meaning that either Brazil or Saudi Arabia will have a team in the semi-finals!Moreover, knowing that Chelsea and Palmeiras are the remaining teams in that half of the tree, both Flu and Hilal totally have the right to hope for the trophy match.Here’s your 1-Minute Highlights – Presented by @Verizon Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUu4lJ | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MCIHIL pic.twitter.com/W8BEPlbCMp— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 1, 2025 Anyway, things didn’t start well for the Saudis, as City broke the deadlock after only nine minutes over Bernardo Silva, who skilfully exploited a melee in the opponents’ box. During the initial 45 minutes, the Premier League side had as many as seven attempts on target, but the gap between the rivals remained minimal thanks to the terrific Yassine Bounou, who finished the game with ten saves.And then the Tsunami effect started. In the opening six minutes after the break, Al Hilal netted twice over two Brazilians, Marcos Leonardo and Malcom, turning the situation altogether!Yet, it took only three minutes for Cityzens to respond, as Erling Haaland levelled after a similar situation as when Silva opened the scoring.Despite expectations, neither team gained an edge until the end of the clash, and everything was set for extra time, though Haaland wasted a massive chance when Ali Lajami cleared his attempt from the goal line.Ali Lajami with the goal line clearance 🔥Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MCIHIL pic.twitter.com/6mamTx1f7j— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 1, 2025 The rivals seemed tired, but the fireworks continued throughout the additional half an hour. Although the Cityzens were in control, the Saudis threw the first punch just four minutes into extra time, as Kalidou Koulibaly put them in front once again following Ruben Neves’ corner-kick cross!In the 100th minute, Guardiola replaced Rodri with Phil Foden and that move paid off only four minutes later when the Englishman exploited Cherki’s magnificent pass and equalized.Guardiola agrees with Klopp: “CWC is the worst idea ever implemented in football”Al Hilal seemed to have been on the ropes, but that was just an illusion. In their last quality attack in the game, in the 112th minute, Renan Lodi crossed the ball in, and Ederson deflected Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header, but Marcos Leonardo was in the right place at the right time once again, putting the rebound into the net from the ground, for the ecstatic joy of all Hilal’s fans at Camping World Stadium in Orlando and the eventual victory over Man City! Arguably the greatest in the club’s history!And when a team beats one of the most powerful crews in the world, who can stop it? If you ask the Blue Waves – probably no one!Fluminense are the next challenge, but even a win over the Brazilians and the FIFA CWC semis won’t satisfy Inzaghi’s “gang.” These men have just realized how good they are, and their appetites have increased. From now on, Al Hilal eye the trophy and nothing less!FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 20251/8 finalsSaturdayPalmeiras – Botafogo 1-0 AET (0-0)/Paulinho 10/Benfica – Chelsea 1-4 AET (1-1)/Di Maria 90+5 pen – James 64, Nkunku 108, Neto 114, Dewsbury-Hall 117/SundayPSG – Inter Miami (4-0)/Neves 6, 39, Aviles 44 og, Hakimi 45+3/Flamengo – Bayern 2-4 (1-3)/Gerson 33, Jorginho 55 pen – Pulgar 6 (og), Kane 9, 73, Goretzka 41/MondayInter – Fluminense 0-2 (0-1)/Cano 3, Hercules 90+3/TuesdayManchester City – Al Hilal 3-4 AET (2-2)/Silva 9, Haaland 55, Foden 104 – Leonardo 46, 112, Malcom 52, Koulibaly 94/22.00: (1.67) Real Madrid (3.70) Juventus (5.50)Wednesday04.00: (1.80) Dortmund (3.60) Monterrey (4.60)***odds are subject to change***
