Al Hilal Overcome Pachuca to Secure Second Place in Group H and Advance to the Round of 16

Salem Al-Dawsari’s strike in the first half was pivotal in Al Hilal’s advancement to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC), as the 2022 runners-up secured a 2-0 victory over Pachuca at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee.

The talent-laden Al Hilal began the match aggressively against a Pachuca team that was already facing elimination. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic appeared to put his side ahead with a powerful shot just five minutes in, but referee Danny Makkelie ruled out the goal for an infringement against Elias Montiel in the lead-up.

The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Nasser Al-Dawsari delivered a beautifully weighted pass that cut through the defence to his namesake Salem, who, fresh from a season with 30 goal contributions in the Saudi Pro League, deftly lifted the ball over the advancing Sebastian Jurado.

It should have been two for Al Hilal nine minutes before half-time, as Marcos Leonardo sent an unmarked header soaring into the stands, despite it seeming an easier task for last season’s 17-goal scorer to find the back of the net.

Pachuca briefly rallied after the break and finally tested Yassine Bounou in the 56th minute. The Moroccan goalkeeper, who had saved a last-minute penalty from Federico Valverde in Al Hilal’s Group H opener against Real Madrid, gathered Salomón Rondón’s powerful strike on the rebound.

Despite making four substitutions, Pachuca frustratingly managed no further shots on target for the rest of the match. It became apparent that Inzaghi’s side was content to maintain possession as the match wore on.

Finally, Leonardo found the back of the net deep into stoppage time, demonstrating a perfect example of timing his run. He expertly anticipated Ruben Neves’ pass, evaded the offside trap, rounded Jurado, and rolled the ball into an empty net.

This victory sets up an exciting quarter-final clash against Manchester City on Saturday, a team with a flawless tournament record so far. The winner will face either Inter Milan or Fluminense in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Pachuca will be eager to move on from the 2025 CWC, having finished at the bottom of the group without securing a single point.

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