Club World Cup: Al-Hilal show Saudi league ‘not just about money’ as Fluminense reach semis
The Brazilians will face the English Premier League’s Chelsea, who eliminated another team from Brazil in the later quarter-final
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal bowed out of the Club World Cup on Friday after a 2-1 defeat to Fluminense, but after an unexpected run to the last eight, they have left their mark on the global stage.
Simone Inzaghi’s team – the last Asian team in the tournament – beat Manchester City 4-3 in the round of 16, delivering the biggest upset of the tournament and one of the competition’s most thrilling games.
Al-Hilal began their campaign with a draw against Spanish giants Real Madrid, and they came through the group stage unbeaten with a draw against Champions League regulars Salzburg and a 2-0 win over six-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners Pachuca of Mexico.
With a squad that mixes local Saudi talent with international recruits, the newly appointed Inzaghi was able to take the team to the brink of the last four.
Substitute Hercules scored his second goal in as many second-half appearances to score the winner for Fluminese in Orlando, Florida.
Martinelli also scored late in the first half to continue a fabulous tournament for the Rio de Janeiro club and Brazil overall. They will now face English Premier League side Chelsea, who beat another Brazilian team, Palmeiras, 2-1 in the later quarter-final.