Al-Hilal secured a 2-0 victory over Mexico’s Pachuca in the Club World Cup, marking their first triumph in the tournament and allowing them to progress to the knockout stages as Group H runners-up, trailing only Real Madrid. Salem Al-Dawsari broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, with Marcos Leonardo sealing the win in stoppage time.
Despite being already eliminated after their first two matches, Pachuca was lively but struggled to threaten Al-Hilal’s defense, which was effectively led by Kalidou Koulibaly. Al-Hilal’s defense limited Pachuca to only a few long-range attempts and half chances.
Ruben Neves, a midfielder for Al-Hilal, expressed pride in the team’s performance, highlighting their solid defense and accomplishment of maintaining a clean sheet. The opening goal was particularly notable, originating from a combination of homegrown talents Nasser Al-Dawsari and Al-Dawsari himself, who displayed excellent skill and teamwork.
While Al-Hilal’s squad is filled with international stars, they demonstrated the talents emerging from their local talent pool, a positive indication of their overall development. Following this victory, they are set to face Manchester City in the last-16 match in Orlando on Monday.
Earlier in the tournament, Al-Hilal drew 1-1 against Real Madrid, showcasing their competitiveness on the international stage. The recent performances of both Al-Hilal and other teams from the Saudi Pro League signal a promising shift in regional football, with strategic investments enhancing the quality and visibility of Middle Eastern football on a global scale.
The future looks bright for Al-Hilal as they continue to make strides in international competitions, fueling optimism among their fans for further successes.
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