Al-Hilal becomes only team outside Europe, the Americas in Club World Cup knockout stage
Coach Simone Inzaghi ‘very proud’ as Saudi Arabian side shows they can compete with the best in the world – will face Manchester City next
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal became the only Asian side to reach the Club World Cup’s knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Pachuca on Thursday, finishing their Group H campaign unbeaten and setting up a round-of-16 meeting with Manchester City.
Salem Aldawsari and Marcus Leonardo scored against the Mexican club as Al-Hilal became the only team outside Europe and the Americas to advance out of group play.
Aldawsari, attacking from the left, scored in the 22nd minute with the ball bouncing off his right foot and soaring over the head of Pachuca goalie Sebastian Jurado to the right side of the goal.
As Pachuca kept trying to keep the pace up, Leonardo scored his first goal of the tournament in the last minute of added time, dribbling swiftly past Jurado and sending a left-footed shot in to secure Al-Hilal’s spot in the round of 16.
Al-Hilal showed they could compete with the best teams in the world when they held Real Madrid – who also qualified from the group – and Red Bull Salzburg to draws in their first two games under new coach Simone Inzaghi.
They have conceded just one goal in their three matches, sharing the best defensive record of the group stage with Paris St-Germain and Monterrey.