Defending champions Manchester City crashed out of the Club World Cup in stunning fashion, losing 4-3 to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in a wild extra-time showdown.
Pep Guardiola’s men had sailed through the group stages but were undone by poor defending on the night, conceding four times in a game that had everything.
City started fast, as they’ve done all tournament, and it was captain Bernardo Silva who tapped in the opener early on—though Al-Hilal players were furious, claiming Rayan Ait-Nouri handled the ball in the build-up.
City had chances to kill the game. Bono, Al-Hilal’s keeper, made crucial saves from Savinho and Gundogan, and showed world-class reflexes to deny Josko Gvardiol’s header.
But Al-Hilal came alive right after halftime. Marcos Leonardo headed in just 44 seconds after the restart, and former Barça winger Malcom stunned City again with a calm finish to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes later, Erling Haaland replied for City, poking home from a corner to level it again.
City came close to a winner—Akanji hit the post, and Haaland’s rebound was heroically cleared off the line by Ali Lajami.
In extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly powered in a header to put Al-Hilal ahead again, but Phil Foden responded with a sharp volley from a tight angle to make it 3-3.Then came the moment of magic.
Marcos Leonardo struck again, this time from the back post, eight minutes from time to seal a famous 4-3 win for Al-Hilal and send the reigning champions crashing out.