Muscat: City have consistently made strong starts in this tournament, and for the fourth game running, they struck early, this time scoring within the first 10 minutes. Captain Bernardo Silva swept home from close range after the opposition defenders failed to clear their lines, but the Al-Hilal players were left fuming as Rayan Ait-Nouri handled the ball during the buildup. The referee, however, didn’t call the handball, and the goal still counted.

Al Hilal Goalkeeper Bono made big saves, pulling off impressive stops to deny both Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan from close range, and showing sharp reflexes to tip Josko Gvardiol’s header over the crossbar. Al-Hilal struggled in the first half, but just 44 seconds into the second half, Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo was in the right place to head in the equaliser.

City were stunned when former Barcelona player Malcom broke free and gave Al-Hilal a surprise lead in the 52nd minute. However, Erling Haaland equaled the score just three minutes later by slotting home from a corner.

As the time was running out, Manuel Akanji flicked a header against the post but was cleared off the line by Ali Lajami. The match went into extra time, and Al-Hilal thought they had won it when former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly powered in a header in the 94th minute, but substitute Phil Foden scored a volley from a tight angle, keeping City in the game after Al-Hilal had taken the lead.
Marcos Leonardo was the hero, converting at the back post with just eight minutes remaining in extra time to secure the victory for the 2021 AFC Champions League winners.
Al Hilal, the only Arab team in the knockout stages of the tournament, now advances to the Club World Cup quarterfinals, where they’ll face Fluminense on July 4.