Club World Cup, Al Hilal knocks out Manchester City. Inzaghi: yesterday it seemed impossible

ORLANDO. Manchester City were surprisingly eliminated from the Club World Cup: in the round of 16, the Premier League club was defeated 4-3 in extra time by Saudi side Al Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi. The match ended 2-2 after the first 90 minutes plus injury time. The brace by Brazilian Marcos Leonardo (46' and 112') was fundamental for the Riyadh team. Inzaghi's next opponents in the quarter-finals will be Brazilian side Fluminense, who yesterday eliminated Inter 2-0. Tonight, Juventus will play in the round of 16 against Real Madrid.
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Marcos Leonardo scored his second goal from a rebound in the 112th minute as Al Hilal stunned Manchester City, knocking the Premier League powerhouse out of the Club World Cup in the last 16. In a thrilling back-and-forth at the Camping World Stadium, the Saudi club took the lead three times, including twice in extra time. Kalidou Koulibaly gave Al Hilal a 3-2 lead in the 94th minute, but Phil Foden, a substitute four minutes earlier, equalised in the 104th. Leonardo finally knocked Manchester City out of the game. Goalkeeper Ederson parried Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's header from inside the penalty area and the ball was deflected to Leonardo, who tipped it onto his right foot and fell down the pitch near the left post. Al Hilal now travel to face Italian side Fluminense, who defeated Inter on Monday morning.
Leonardo also scored in the 46th minute to level the score at 1-1. Bernardo Silvan opened the scoring in the ninth minute for Manchester City. Malcom gave Al Hilal the lead in the 52nd minute, and Erling Haaland scored in the 55th minute to make it 2-2. Manchester City came close to winning in regulation time in the final seconds of injury time, thanks to a counterattack that was foiled by a hard foul. The referees did not award a penalty, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ran onto the pitch to discuss the decision after the whistle. Al Hilal will face Fluminense on July 4 at the Camping World Stadium for a place in the semi-finals. "We defeated a very, very strong team. Yesterday it seemed impossible," said Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi. "It's a shame... Nothing to say. We will have to continue. I still have the feeling that this team is doing well. We will go home and have time to rest," commented a disappointed Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City.
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