Yassine Bounou pulled off a masterclass between the posts as Al Hilal knocked Manchester City out of the Club World Cup in a 4-3 extra-time win in Orlando, Florida.
City looked to be on for a cruising game when Bernardo Silva tucked one in after just nine minutes. But from then on, it turned into The Bounou Show™.
6′ Rúben Dias gets a free header 😮
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The Moroccan shot-stopper was everywhere – diving, flying, clawing balls out of nowhere.
Transfer Guru Fabricio Romano wrote on Facebook: “10 saves. Yes, 10 SAVES. Ten saves against Man City in the FIFA Club World Cup. Like a wall. Like a monster. NOT HUMAN. You’re insane, Bounou.”
It wasn’t even as if City played badly. They created chances galore. But every time they got past Al Hilal’s shaky defence, there was Bounou – cool as ice, sharp as hell.
Guardiola looked gutted on the touchline, and after the match, he didn’t even try to hide it: “Bounou made incredible saves. Nothing else to say.”
Al Hilal scored some tidy goals – two from Marcos Leonardo, one from Malcom, and a thumping header from Koulibaly. But without Bounou’s heroics, they’d have been torn apart by half-time.
The 2023 Champions League winners are now heading home, finishing the season trophyless, while Al Hilal – and their brick-wall No.1 – roll on to the quarters to face Brazil’s Fluminense.
