Al Hilal will be in the eighths of the Club World Cup. The Saudi team beat 2-0 to Pachuca On the third day of Group H, he added five points and, after the victory of the Real Madrid On Salzburg, he advances as second classified from Group H. The men of Simone Inzaghi They will face in the round of 16 to the Manchester City.
The Saudi block did not fail. Opposite had a Pachuca Already eliminated, yes, but that started better and played dignity. Al Hilal He resisted the first thrust, did not get carried away by pressure and gradually took over the game. He had control, occasions … and the goal. That blow was given by one of the Saudi football's own names.
A petroleum jelly with Saudi seal
The only goal of the game came in the 22nd minute, and it was a jewel. Nasser Al-Dawsari leaked a perfect chopped pass between lines and Salem Al-Dawsari -What is not familiar to the assistant-, with cold blood, he defined with a master petrol above Sebastián Jurado. A world -class technical gesture, of those who decide parties without the need for stridency. It was the 1-0… and the direct ticket to the next round.
From the goal, Al Hilal He handled the times with authority. Rubén Neves He took over the ball, marked the rhythm, and Milinkovic-Savic He gave each transition packaging. Back, Koulibaly He signed an impeccable first part, always firm in the melee and without granting a single crack. João Cancelosomething shy in the first minutes, he was released until he became a key offensive factor on the right wing.
The Tuzos They did not disappear at all. Rondón He lowered balls, tried to win meters and served as a reference above, while Palavecino tested from afar with a dry shot that Bono He caught in two times, without complications. In the second part, Pachuca He took a step forward and put in trouble Al Hilal For several sections, forcing the Saudis to protect their advantage with possession and cold head.
Minutes of vertigo in Nashville
The game went crazy 10 minutes from the end. First it was Bautista Who was close to the tie after a loose ball in the area, but his shot from the penalty spot was centered and bonded with suspense. Then, in 82 ', one of the lightest of the party arrived: Marcos Leonardo He planted only before a jury, wanted to chop her and got it, but when the ball already headed me meekly, the rival defense saved her on the line. Just a minute later, Illian Hernández He touched the tie with a header that lick the right post. Al Hilal He trembled, but he didn't fall.
Final sentence
Already in the addition, with Pachuca overturned, the final blow came. Marcos Leonardo He took advantage of a deep ball behind the defense, won the race, raffled Sebastián Jurado with coldness and pushed pleasure to sign the 2-0 In the 94th minute. Goal with a Brazilian signature to close the pass … and dissipate the ghosts.
With two draws and a victory, Al Hilal does the homework and advances as second in the groupjust behind Real Madrid. The cross will be high voltage: a Manchester City that has devastated Juventus. A major challenge … but not impossible for a team that comes undefeated and with the feeling that he has not yet said his last word in this World Cup.
