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Man City 3 Al-Hilal 4: City dumped out of club World Cup in huge shock after dramatic late defeat to Saudi side

MARCOS LEONARDO struck twice as Manchester City were sensationally dumped out of the Club World Cup by Al-Hilal.

Pep Guardiola’s men looked to be coasting to the quarter-finals as they dominated the first half and took an early lead through Bernardo Silva.

Manchester City players walking off the field after a game.
Alamy
Man City have been dumped out of the Club World Cup[/caption]
Marcos Leonardo of Al Hilal celebrating.
Alamy
Marcos Leonardo netted a brace for Al-Hilal in the last 16 tie[/caption]
Bernardo Silva celebrating a goal.
Getty
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring[/caption]
Al Hilal soccer players celebrating a goal.
Reuters
Chelsea flop Kalidou Koulibaly found the net in extra-time[/caption]

Yet Simone Inzaghi’s side hit back to take the lead within seven minutes of the restart.

And despite equalisers from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden – his 100th goal for his boyhood club – Leonardo struck in the 113th minute to put the holders out. 

Al-Hilal – who qualified for this tournament by winning their version of the Champions League in 2021 – held Real Madrid to a draw in their opening game.

They have paid Inzaghi a basic salary of around £25 million per year to leave Inter within weeks of leading them to the Champions League and move to the Middle East.

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Yet in the opening exchanges, they looked to be no match for City – who would have been out of sight but for the excellence of goalkeeper Bono.

For the fourth time in four games in this tournament, City were ahead inside the first 10 minutes – but this one came in controversial circumstances.

Rayan Ait Nouri appeared to handle before getting over a cross that was cleared straight into the shoulder of the on-rushing Ilkay Gundogan.

Bernardo stabbed home the loose ball and the goal stood despite the furious protests of the Al-Hilal players.

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City had got lucky with that one but looked to put the game to bed and Al-Hilal were grateful to Bono for smart saves from Savinho and Gundogan.

The Morocco international – who was outstanding in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – also tipped over a Josko Gvardiol header.

Savinho chipped in a cross that was volleyed straight at Bono by Doku as another chance went begging.

Al-Hilal conceded just one goal in their three group matches – yet they had been completely run ragged by City in the first half.

However, within a minute of he re-start, Inzaghi’s side were level as Ederson pushed out former City defender Joao Cancelo’s cross.

When Malcom’s shot was blocked it bounced up kindly for Marcos Leonardo who nodded in from close range.

And six minutes later, the Saudi side were ahead as City committed too many men forward for a corner and were caught out.

Match stats graphic showing Manchester City vs Al-Hilal: shots on target, shots, blocked shots, possession, passes, completed passes, tackles, fouls conceded, and corners.
Erling Haaland and Rodri celebrating a goal.
AFP
Erling Haaland fired some from close range[/caption]
Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrating a goal.
AFP
Phil Foden reached a landmark 100th goal for Man City[/caption]
Al Hilal's Malcom celebrates scoring a goal.
AFP
Malcom has put Al-Hilal ahead before Haaland’s goal[/caption]

Cancelo’s pass sent Malcom racing clear and he showed great composure to beat his fellow Brazilian Ederson.

A big shock suddenly looked on the cards and Pep Guardiola sent on three subs – including Ballon D’Or winner Rodri.

And one of the replacements, Manuel Akanji had a hand in the equaliser – challenging for a Silva corner which fell nicely for Erling Haaland, who finished emphatically.

An incredible start to the second half continued as Dias sent Malcolm tumbling in the box – and the ref pointed to the spot – only for the linesman’s flag to come to City’s rescue.

Both sides had chances to win it with Doku nodding over from close range and Mohamed Kanno missing an even better chance at the other end.

Then an Akanji header bounced back off the woodwork and Haaland’s effort from the rebound was cleared off the line by Ali Lajami.

So it went to extra time and amazingly Al-Hilal were back in front within four minutes of the restart.

Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly got in between Nathan Ake and Dias to nod home a corner from the left.

Still though there was another twist as two subs combined – Rayan Cherki chipping to the back post for Phil Foden to volley across the keeper into the opposite corner.

And just when it looked to be heading for penalties Renan Lodi’s cross was headed goalwards by Sergei Milenkovic-Savic.

Ederson made the save but it only went into the path of Leonardo who bundled the ball in.

City huffed and puffed to try to find a way back in yet again but it wasn’t to be – and completely unexpectedly, they will be heading home today.

Pep Guardiola looking dejected after a soccer game.
Alamy
Pep Guardiola was left scratching his head after the match[/caption]

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Woman ‘sexually assaulted in hotel or house’ after leaving city centre nightclub as cops issue CCTV of two men

COPS are on the hunt after a woman was sexually assaulted leaving a nightclub in the early hours.

Devon and Cornwall Police have now released CCTV of two men they wish to speak to as part of their ongoing probe.

The assault was launched after the victim left a Plymouth city centre venue in the early hours of Sunday, June 29.

She was then attacked at a “property, hotel or bed and breakfast”, cops say.

Officers are also appealing to anyone who may have seen a “distressed female” in the area.

It is believed she may have walked anywhere from Old Town Street down to New George Street and into Cornwall Street.

She is described as having long blonde hair and would have been dressed in black.

The force also say the woman was asking for directions between 8am and 9am.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson confirmed: “It was reported that the victim was assaulted in either a property, hotel or bed and breakfast after leaving a nightclub in the city centre in the early hours of Sunday 29 June.

“Officers would like to speak to the two men pictured as it is believed they may be able to help with enquiries.

“Anybody who is able to assist the investigation is asked to contact us on 101 or via our website quoting 50250165656.”

CCTV images of two men, wanted in connection with an assault.
Devon and Cornwall Police
Devon and Cornwall Police have now released CCTV of two men they wish to speak to as part of their ongoing probe[/caption]
CCTV images of two men, wanted in connection with an assault.
Devon and Cornwall Police
It is believed “they may be able to help with enquiries”[/caption]

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Lady Netizen Goes Viral for Eating Her Packed Meal Inside Fast-Food Restaurant 

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The post Lady Netizen Goes Viral for Eating Her Packed Meal Inside Fast-Food Restaurant  appeared first on PhilNews.

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‘It’s a fine balance’ – Tipperary GAA selector dismisses ‘public perception’ that Liam Cahill ‘flogs his players’

THE SUGGESTION that Tipperary boss Liam Cahill is guilty of overcooking players has been dismissed as a half-baked theory by Declan Laffan.

Cahill has faced claims of pushing his teams too hard since he led Waterford to the 2022 National League title, only for his side to flop in the Championship.

Liam Cahill, Tipperary hurling manager, at a match.
Liam Cahill has been accused of pushing teams too hard
Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Portrait of Declan Laffan at a Tipperary Hurling Media Conference.
Tipperary selector Declan Laffan defended Cahill
Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

In his role as a pundit on an episode of the Smaller Fish podcast, ex-Offaly forward Brian Carroll claimed Cahill’s teams ‘run out of steam’ in the summer.

But after a challenging first two seasons at the helm in Tipp, they are just one win away from appearing in a first All-Ireland SHC showpiece since 2019.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s semi-final against Kilkenny, Tipp selector Laffan said: “The public perception of Liam I suppose is that he flogs his teams.

“Look, let the public think what they like. We just have to worry about what we do.

“We probably didn’t get it right last year. We probably tapered it back a little bit too much and maybe suffered in the latter end of the games where teams pulled away from us and we just hadn’t it in the lungs to stay with them.

“It’s a fine balance getting it right and it’s even the same you’ll see coming into big games like this, match week, how you tailor training during the week that you don’t end up flat. Do you do an hour? Do you do 40 minutes?

“Everything has to be tailored properly and that’s where your S&C guys come in and make sure that things are done right.”

Tipp have played twice since Kilkenny’s last outing, which saw the Cats overcome Galway to land a sixth consecutive Leinster title.

Cahill’s men eased past Laois, before beating the Tribe in the quarter-finals.

Kilkenny will hope the four-week lay-off will stand to them in their first Championship clash with their neighbours since Tipp won the Liam MacCarthy Cup decider six years ago.

But Laffan said: “The two-week break after Galway is ideal . . . 

“I think it’s worked well for us. If we win, we’ll say we have it right. If we don’t, somebody will find fault. There’s not much we can do about that though.”

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Congress Bill Proposes P1,000 Monthly Allowance for Students

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The post Congress Bill Proposes P1,000 Monthly Allowance for Students appeared first on PhilNews.

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