FIFA Club World Cup
Goals from Salem Al Dawsari and Marcos Leonardo earned all three points for the Riyadh-based side to finish as the group runners-up behind Real Madrid.
The Saudi Arabian will meet Group G winners Manchester City in Orlando on Monday, while Spain's Real, who defeated FC Salzburg, face Group G runners-up Juventus FC of Italy in Miami on Tuesday.
With both Real Madrid and Salzburg two points ahead going into the group finales, Al Hilal knew that only victory against Pachuca would do. They produced the best chances early on, with Malcom in the middle of both.
First, the Brazilian winger came close to getting a toe on Al Dawsari's far-post cross. He then blasted a shot over the crossbar after Leonardo's layoff in the box.
Al Hilal finally achieved the breakthrough in the 22nd minute. Al Dawsari displayed extraordinary control on namesake Nasser Al Dawsari's chip over the top, bringing the ball down with a deft touch from his right boot. He then beat goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado with a looping flick to make it 1-0 Al Hilal.
Already eliminated from the knockout round, Pachuca were left to play spoiler. Their best chance of the first half came in the 42nd minute when Agustin Palavecino’s shot from distance forced a difficult save by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who nearly gave up a rebound to the lurking Salomon Rondon.
While Real Madrid led Salzburg comfortably in Philadelphia, Al Hilal still had to see their victory through during a nervy second half.
In the 55th minute, Bounou stopped Rondon's shot from inside the area, and in the 81st minute, Elias Montiel's volleyed attempt in the area fell to the Al Hilal keeper. Two minutes later, Illian Hernandez's free header sailed just wide of Bounou's right post.
However, five minutes into stoppage time, Leonardo clinched all three points for Al Hilal. He rounded Jurado and slotted the ball home to book his team's place in the Round of 16 against Pep Guardiola's City.
Source: FIFA, AFP, Al Hilal SFC
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