[Sport] Real Madrid and Al Hilal play out pulsating draw as Valverde misses late penalty

[FRIDAY THE 13]

 

 

 

Yassine Bounou’s stoppage-time penalty save ensured a spirited Al Hilal Saudi held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in this Group H opener of the FIFA Club World Cup at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, ending Los Blancos’ perfect record against Saudi Arabian opposition (W2, D1).

This was the dawn of a new era for Real in Miami, with Xabi Alonso making his debut in the dugout, while Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold were making their first outings in the famous all-white strip.

 

It has also been a summer of change for Al Hilal, with former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi taking charge for the first time.

 

The Italian would have been encouraged by his side’s start, as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s shot was tipped behind by Thibaut Courtois.

 

Real had yet to wake up, and the Saudi Pro League side spurned a golden opportunity when Marcos Leonardo fired wide from Salem Al Dawsari’s cut-back.

 

It looked like former Atlético Madrid man Renan Lodi had given the Riyadh outfit the lead with a clinical finish, but Real's blushes were spared by the linesman's flag.

 

Alonso’s team were on the ropes, and they were fortunate not to go a goal down when Hassan Tambakti headed wide from a Ruben Neves corner.

 

However, Real took the lead against the run of play at the end of a blistering break when Gonzalo Garcia scuffed home a finish past Yassine Bounou from Rodrygo’s sublime ball across the box.

 

Edited July 11 by FRIDAY THE 13