By Sachit Subba β’ Football β’ Jun 23, 2025 03:58 AM β’ 148 views
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 23 β Under a sweltering sun and a suffocating 99-degree heat index, RB Salzburg and Al Hilal battled to a scoreless draw on Sunday that left both clubs with work to do heading into the final round of Group H fixtures in the FIFA Club World Cup. Despite the absence of goals, the clash at Audi Field delivered no shortage of pace, physicality, and near-misses. Both goalkeepers β Yassine Bounou for Al Hilal and Christian Zawieschitzky for Salzburg β earned their stripes in a contest defined by acceptable margins and unconverted opportunities. With the draw, Salzburg (4 points) moved level with Real Madrid atop Group H but trailed the Spanish giants on goal differential (+2 to +1). Al Hilal (2 points) remain unbeaten yet winless β a team still chasing its rhythm and results but not out of contention.
A Match of Missed Moments
Al Hilal, the 19-time Saudi Pro League champions, might leave Washington feeling the more frustrated of the two sides. They dominated stretches of the match β especially in the first half β and ended the evening with a 19-13 advantage in total shots. But for all their buildup play, only a handful of those efforts truly tested Salzburg's backline.
Their best chance came late, in the 81st minute, when Serbian midfielder Sergej MilinkoviΔ-SaviΔ let fly from distance with a curling effort bound for the bottom corner. But Zawieschitzky, ever alert, read it perfectly and smothered the danger at the near post.
In truth, the Austrian champions had their own missed opportunity to seize early control of the group. Salzburg threatened first, with Karim Onisiwo flicking a long aerial ball goalward in the 9th minute, forcing Bounou into his first save of the evening.
But it was the Moroccan international's acrobatic denial of John Mellberg in the 48th minute β when the Swedish forward found himself six yards out with a clear look at goal β that cemented Bounou's place as Al Hilal's most valuable player on the night.
Defensive Heroics in the Heat
For all the focus on the goalkeepers, it was a defensive moment in the 21st minute that ensured Al Hilal didn't break the deadlock early. Marcos Leonardo's goal-bound effort beat Zawieschitzky but not centre-back Jacob Rasmussen, who slid in to clear the ball off the line in what may prove a pivotal moment in the group standings. "We showed resilience under pressure," said Salzburg manager Thomas Letsch. "It wasn't pretty, but it's the kind of result you need in tournament football."
Final Group Showdowns Loom
The result sets up a tantalizing Group H finale. Salzburg faces European titans Real Madrid in Philadelphia on Thursday β a match where the winner advances and, in Madrid's case, even a draw secures passage. Salzburg must avoid defeat and hope their goal difference holds up. Al Hilal, meanwhile, takes on already-eliminated Pachuca in Nashville. A victory would move them to five points β but their fate would hinge on what unfolds between Madrid and Salzburg. "The belief is still there," said Al Hilal boss Simone Inzaghi. "We are unbeaten, and now it's about finishing with strength." For now, the desert heat of D.C. couldn't ignite either attack β but the pressure and stakes are only rising. The road to the last 16 is still open, but it is narrowing fast.
