By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 27, 2025 05:10 AM • 142 views
In a controlled and calculated display under the Nashville lights, Al-Hilal secured their spot in the Club World Cup knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Mexico's Pachuca, finishing second in Group H behind Real Madrid and earning a mouthwatering last-16 showdown with English champions Manchester City. Salem Al-Dawsari, the long-serving Saudi talisman, broke the deadlock midway through the first half before Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo added gloss to the scoreline deep in stoppage time, ensuring the four-time Asian champions advance with five points, one more than Austria's Red Bull Salzburg. For Pachuca, it was a case of too little, too late. Already eliminated following back-to-back defeats, the Mexican side displayed plenty of attacking intent but were unable to find a way past a resolute Al-Hilal backline anchored by Senegalese stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly, who expertly nullified the threat of Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondón.
"It was a hard game, but I think we did a great job," Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves told reporters post-match. "We scored first, had control, and defended very well. A clean sheet and a win—that's the most important thing."
Despite boasting a squad glittering with international pedigree—featuring the likes of Neves, Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Sergej Milinković-Savić—it was two homegrown products who combined for the breakthrough. In the 22nd minute, Nasser Al-Dawsari lofted an intelligent ball into the box, and his namesake, captain Salem Al-Dawsari, showcased sublime technique to bring it down and lift it over Pachuca keeper Sebastián Jurado in one smooth motion.
Al-Hilal had chances to kill off the game earlier. Marcos Leonardo preferred up front, glanced a header narrowly over and saw a later effort cleared off the line after a delicate chip was parried by Jurado and swept away by defender Eduardo Bauermann. Pachuca, to their credit, had a flicker of hope late on when substitute Illian Hernandez sent a powerful header just wide of the post in the 84th minute. But any nerves were silenced five minutes into added time. Neves, composed and precise throughout the evening, threaded a pass through a tired Pachuca backline to Leonardo, who rounded the keeper and coolly slotted home to make sure of the result. Now, all eyes turn to Orlando, where Al-Hilal will face treble-winners Manchester City in a blockbuster round-of-16 encounter on Monday. For Neves, it's a reunion with familiar foes. "We are playing against, for me, one of the top three teams in the world. I know them very well," said the Portuguese international, a former Wolves standout. "We'll do our best. We'll prepare the game like we did in these three matches—and we'll see what happens." Al-Hilal's significant investment in global talent has been scrutinized since the Saudi Pro League's aggressive recruitment drive began—but nights like this validate their project. With confidence growing and belief mounting, they now face the ultimate litmus test: Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
