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| Al Hilal Saudi Club secured a valuable and well-deserved 2-0 victory over Mexico’s Pachuca, in an intense clash held early Friday morning, June 27, 2025, as part of Matchday 3 of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage. The match took place at Geodis Park in Nashville, USA. |
First Half: A Perfect Start
Al Hilal started the match with dominance and control, which resulted in an early goal in the 22nd minute scored by Salem Al-Dawsari, who skillfully chipped the ball over the goalkeeper after receiving a smart pass, giving his team an early advantage.
In the second half, Pachuca made several attempts to get back into the game, but they were repeatedly denied by the brilliance of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who made several key saves — the most notable being a powerful shot by Rondón in the 55th minute. Despite continued pressure, Al Hilal maintained balance and composure in defense.
In the dying moments, precisely in the 90+6th minute, substitute Marcos Leonardo sealed the win with a decisive goal after a clear one-on-one situation, confirming Al Hilal’s qualification to the Round of 16.
Substitution and an Injury Concern
The match also witnessed a worrying moment for Al Hilal fans when Salem Al-Dawsari was forced off due to injury in the 76th minute, with Mohammed Kanno replacing him.
Group Standings Update
Thanks to this victory and Real Madrid’s win over Salzburg in the other group match, Al Hilal climbed to 5 points, securing second place in the group ahead of Salzburg on goal difference, and officially booked their spot in the knockout stage of the tournament.