MIAMI: After pulling off the biggest upset at the Club World Cup so far, Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal will have their sights set on reaching the semi-finals when they face Brazilian club Fluminense in Orlando early tomorrow morning.
The Saudi Pro League club put in a superb performance to beat English Premier League club Manchester City 4-3 in extra time in the last 16.
Although there was no lack of effort and courage in Al-Hilal’s performance against Pep Guardiola’s squad, it was also accompanied by impressive tactical discipline, form and technical quality.
And they will be remembered for putting Middle Eastern football clubs on the world map through victories that gave them international influence.
Italian manager Simone Inzaghi took over the team just before the start of the tournament and has deployed experienced talent such as Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo, former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
And Milinkovic, who played alongside Inzaghi at Lazio in Serie A, proved his most influential performance against City and earned praise from Guardiola.
Inzaghi is happy he has key players he can communicate with and use their experience for the big test.
“I don’t need to know Sergej. He’s a great player who has a combination of quality and quantity,” Inzaghi said after the match.
“He runs a lot, I’m like all the other players. He’s like Koulibaly and Joao Cancelo, speaks Italian, so he also helps the staff and me,” he said.
Fluminense also beat expectations by advancing to the last eight after beating Champions League finalists Inter Milan 2-0.