In an impressive display, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal became the sole Asian representative to advance to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, securing a 2-0 victory over Pachuca on Thursday. Their unbeaten run in Group H has set the stage for a round-of-16 clash with Manchester City.
Al-Hilal demonstrated their ability to challenge the world’s elite by managing to draw against both Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg in their opening matches under the guidance of new coach Simone Inzaghi.
The team has allowed only one goal across three games, sharing the best defensive record in the group stage alongside Paris St Germain and Monterrey.
“Our objective was to be among the best teams in the world,” Inzaghi remarked.
“It was a challenging task, but the squad was united. They fought hard in all three matches for an important goal… we didn’t come here just for a good time; we came to compete in a World Cup and aimed to reach this level.
“Next up is Manchester City… one of the top teams globally. Matches like this are opportunities for us to grow and develop as a team, so I take great pride in this achievement.”
Majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Al-Hilal has recruited numerous world-class talents over the past two years, including Neymar, Malcom, Ruben Neves, Marcos Leonardo, and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Despite Neymar’s departure and Mitrovic currently sidelined due to a calf injury, the team’s depth has enabled Al-Hilal to handle the pressures of this prestigious tournament effectively.
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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