NASHVILLE — Salem Al-Dawsari scored a fancy goal in the 22nd minute, Marcos Leonardo added a clincher in second-half stoppage time and Al-Hilal defeated Pachuca 2-0 in Nashville to advance to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Al-Hilal (1-0-2, 5 points), the most successful club in Saudi Arabia, did not take a loss in Group H play, after drawing with Real Madrid and RB Salzburg. Their win vaulted them past Salzburg, who finished with four points after losing 3-0 to Real Madrid.
“These are not easy games, and we are in the Club World Cup so every team that is here they have potential. It was a hard game…so clean sheet and the win and we are through. That’s the most important,” Ruben Neves of Al-Hilal said.
“Every player wants to score, my goal was ambitious, and scoring was the cherry on top,” Salem Aldawsari of Al-Hilal added.
Yassine Bounou made two saves for Al-Hilal, who will face Group G winners Manchester City in the Round of 16 on Monday in Orlando. Meanwhile, Pachuca (0-3-0, 0 points) will return to Mexico without a point in the tournament.
For the opening goal, Salem Al-Dawsari received a pass over the top from Nasser Al-Dawsari (no relation) and popped a high-arcing right-footed shot over Pachuca goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado. The shot bounced into the far corner of the goal.
After Bounou fell on top of a Pachuca chance in the 81st minute, Leonardo put the game out of reach with a goal assisted by Ruben Neves five minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Pachuca was already eliminated after losing their first two games. While they put up a good fight, Al Hilal’s defence – marshalled by Kalidou Koulibaly – shackled danger man Salomon Rondon and restricted the Mexicans to long-range shots and half chances.
Al-Hilal was given a few scares by Pachuca as they sat deeper to protect their lead in the final quarter, but held on for a victory that gave them five points to Red Bull Salzburg’s four.
“It was a hard game but I think we did a great game,” said midfielder Ruben Neves.
“We scored first off, we had control and we defended very well. A clean sheet and a win and we are through. That’s the most important thing.”
Al Hilal have spent heavily on top talent from across the globe, but the opening goal came from a combination of two homegrown talents.
Nasser Al Dawsari took possession in the final third and lofted a pass into the area to his captain Salem, who controlled the ball with one touch of his right foot and lifted it over the goalkeeper with his second.
Leonardo headed over the crossbar later in the first half and should have scored in the 83rd minute when he only had goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado to beat.
His chip was too weak, however, and Jurado got enough of a touch on it to allow defender Eduardo Bauermann to clear it off the line.
Pachuca substitute Illian Hernandez sounded a warning with a header that flashed past the post in the 84th minute but Leonardo settled any Al-Hilal nerves five minutes into stoppage time.
Neves found him in plenty of space in the box and this time the Brazilian rounded the goalkeeper and tucked the ball into an empty net.
