Manchester City 3 Al Hilal 4: City player ratings as Pep Guardiola's side crash out of the Club World Cup
Al Hilal 4 (Marcos Leonardo 46′ 112′, Malcom 52′, Kalidou Koulibaly 93′)
Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City crashed out of the FIFA Club World Cup at the hands of Al Hilal as they went down to a 4-3 defeat to Simone Inzaghi's side. It was a tale of squandered chances for Pep Guardiola's side as they dominated the first half but didn't take their chances. Al Hilal would make them pay as they claimed a famous victory in extra time.
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The first half at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando was dominated by Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side would take the lead in the 9th minute through Bernardo Silva. A quality ball from Tijjani Reijnders played in Rayan Ait-Nouri and his cross was eventually nodded home by Bernardo Silva. The Al Hilal players were adamant that Rayan Ait-Nouri had handled the ball in the build-up but the goal stood.
Manchester City should've taken a sizable lead into the interval. But Yassine Bounou in the Al Hilal goal was in inspired form. The Al Hilal keeper made a string of fine saves to keep the score at 1-nil at halftime. That would prove telling in the chaos that ensued in the second half.
Al Hilal take it to Manchester City to begin the second half.
First of all, Marcos Leonardo equalised for Al Hilal in the 46th minute. The Brazilian striker headed home after a Joao Cancelo cross was parried into the City penalty area by Ederson which led to a goal mouth scramble which saw Marcos Leonardo prosper. It would get better for Simone Inzaghi's side in the 52nd minute as Malcom gave them the lead. Malcom's goal came from a swift counter from a Manchester City corner.
Erling Haaland would make it 2-all three minutes later. Manchester City's number nine prodded home with a simple finish after the ball fell into his path from a Bernardo Silva corner.
Following the hectic start to the second half the game would finish 2-all after 90 minutes. Both teams would have their chances to win the game, but extra time would be needed to separate the two teams.
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In extra time Kalidou Koulibaly would give Al Hilal the lead in the 93rd minute. Koulibaly would power a header home from a corner to give his team the lead. Phil Foden would equalise in the 104th minute after he got on the end of a brilliant Rayan Cherki cross to make it 3-all on the verge of halftime of extra time.
But it would be Al Hilal who would progress to the quarter-final stage of the Club World Cup when Marcos Leonardo scored the winner in the 112th minute. Leonardo tapped in after an Ederson save and it would be the seventh and decisive goal of the match. Manchester City wouldn't find an equaliser and they crashed out of the FIFA Club World Cup at the round of 16 stage with a defeat to Simone Inzaghi's side.
City player ratings
Ederson-4/10: Made one good save but it led to Marcos Leonardo's second goal of the night. Not his best performance.
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Matheus Nunes-6.5/10: Got forward well in the first half but harshly picked up a yellow card in the first half. He was substituted just after halftime as Al Hilal lifted.
Ruben Dias-6/10: Made several crucial challenges throughout the game, but like his teammates at the back, he wasn't at his best.
Josko Gvardiol-6/10: Not at his best and picked up a yellow card in the first half. Taken off just after halftime.
Rayan Ait-Nouri-6.5/10: Played a pivotal role in Manchester City's opening goal but drifted out of the game as it progressed.
Bernardo Silva-6.5/10: He ran himself into the ground and scored Manchester City's opening goal. Also provided some quality delivery from set pieces.
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Tijjani Reijnders-6.5/10: Played well in the first half but drifted out of the game in the second. Substituted before extra time having fun himself into the ground.
Ilkay Gundogan-6/10: Had one good chance in the first half to make 2-nil but was denied by an inspired Bono in the Al Hilal goal. But as Al Hilal lifted in the second half be struggled to keep pace before being substituted.
Savinho-6/10: He was energetic and dangerous in the first half but faded out of the game. He must improve his finishing as he had one good chance saved in the first half.
Jeremy Doku-8/10: Manchester City's man-of-the-match in my opinion. He was a constant threat throughout the game on the left and never gave the Al Hilal defence a break.
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Erling Haaland-7/10: Haaland scored Manchester City's equaliser and should have scored one or two more. But what impressed me in the first half was his ability on the ball and his work rate.
Substitutes
Rodri-6.5/10: Manchester City's midfield general came on midway through the second half and gave his team a semblance of control after Al Hilal's second half surge. Taken off in extra time and replaced by Foden as City pushed for an equaliser.
Manuel Akanji-5.5/10: Came on to shore up Manchester City's defence but he struggled with the pace of the game.
Nathan Ake-5.5/10: Made several crucial blocks but looks short of match fitness.
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Rayan Cherki-7.5/10: Cherki set up Foden's equaliser in extra time with a superb ball. Tried hard when he came on and perhaps he should have come on sooner.
Omar Marmoush-6/10: Largely anonymous after coming on.
Phil Foden-7.5/10: Like Cherki he tried to turn the game in Manchester City's favour. Scored City's third goal of the game with a sublime finish and his return to form is a major positive to take from the Club World Cup for Manchester City.
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