Al-Hilal secured their place in the Club World Cup last 16 after a tense 2-0 victory over Pachuca, capitalising on Real Madrid’s win against Salzburg. The Saudi side, led by Simone Inzaghi, will now face Manchester City in the next round.
Al-Hilal eased into the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Pachuca and benefiting from Real Madrid’s win over Salzburg. Simone Inzaghi’s side became the only Asian representative in the last 16 of the tournament.
The match against Pachuca was tense and was settled in the final minutes when Marcos Leonardo scored the winner. For much of the game, Al-Hilal speculated on the result and came close to being eliminated, especially due to the lack of finishing from the Mexican strikers.
Salem Al-Dawsari was the standout performer for the Saudi side, scoring a goal and being the MVP, although he withdrew with an injury and is a doubt for the clash with Manchester City. Inzaghi’s conservative approach worked, but the team showed shortcomings that will need to be corrected if they are to compete against bigger opposition.
Pachuca, meanwhile, searched for an equaliser until the end, but Al-Hilal’s defence held firm and kept the Mexicans out of the tournament. Al-Hilal now prepare for a demanding clash against Manchester City, knowing that they will need to improve their performance if they are to progress in the competition.
