Man City crashed out of the Club World Cup in a shock defeat to Al Hilal that was labelled ‘one among football’s biggest shocks’.
City were beaten 4-3 in extra-time to the Saudi Pro League club in a thriller at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side were left to rue a succession of missed probabilities as they didn’t add to Bernardo Silva’s ninth-minute opener before Marcos Leonardo and Malcom turned the sport around.
Erling Haaland sent the sport to beyond regular time but City needed one other equaliser from Phil Foden after Kalidou Koulibaly headed the Saudi Arabian outfit back in front.
City, who were repeatedly caught on the break, couldn’t regain the initiative and Leonardo secured a serious upset – and a press release victory for Saudi football – with 112 minutes on the clock.
It was a tricky day on the office for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who continues to get back to full strength after a knee injury.
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He was subbed on within the 53rd minute, before being hooked off in beyond regular time. He made zero tackles and was dribbled past twice.
It led to some pretty nasty messages on social media as people asked ‘is Rodri the worst Ballon d’Or winner of all time?’
It was a very different story for Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who placed on an almighty performance against City.
He made 10 saves within the match and was a whole brick wall for the Saudi club, while he currently leads the Club World Cup with 23 saves in 4 games.
Haaland even appeared to joke that Bounou should come to City after the sport.
And it’s a result that may likely reverberate throughout the football world.
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talkSPORT host Jeff Stelling said: “It’s one among the largest shocks, dare I say, within the history of the sport. The Saudi Arabian side, Al-Hilal, have put Manchester City out.
“That is a result, I believe, that may reverberate around world football since the natural order that we have at all times seen has been completely demolished in a single game. Saudi football has announced itself on the world stage.”
Former Rangers striker Ally McCoist added: “It’s the largest result that the Middle Eastern league could have dreamt of. It truly is. It is a incredible result for them.
“Regardless of what happens now, the proven fact that they’ve taken the scalp of Manchester City may be very, very significant.
“And also you’re right. It’s one among the largest shocks and surprises we have had in an extended, very long time.
“City defensively looked as poor as they looked in stages last season. Literally far and wide.”
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City had been strong favourites to prevail and undergo to a quarter-final clash against Fluminense, the side they thrashed 4-0 within the 2023 final, but Guardiola conceded there have been shortcomings at each ends of the sphere.
He said: “We regret just a little bit that we allowed them to run a bit more. They defended so deep, the wingers were so quick and Bounou made numerous saves.
“In the long run, we’ve got to attain and be clinical. They arrived more within the transitions. They didn’t create much in the primary half but we did but couldn’t finish it.
“I had a sense we could undergo but they punished us on the transitions.”
Now City head back to England will all focus back on the Premier League, but there are financial reverberations.
This defeat cost them over £9million, while one other £15million would have been at stake in the event that they had reached the quarter-final.