Just when it seemed that Asian football could have a FIFA Club World Cup to forget, after Urawa Red Diamonds and Ulsan HD fell to open losses on Tuesday, he went up to Hilal.
It could be said that he faces the toughest evidence of all, after his continental counterparts lost to the Argentine and South African opponents in the form of River Plate and Mamelodi Sundowns, respectively, to the Hilal assured that at least they have a point of showing for their efforts on Wednesday at the beginning of their group H's campaign with a 1-1 draw, against the powerful true Madrid, no less less.
The Saudi Pro League team certainly survived a close shave, with goalkeeper Yassine Bouou produced crucial savings in the detention time to keep an penalty of Federic efforts did not have the objective of the efforts of the finals of the finals. ten minutes.
Okay, it would be inaccurate to say that this was a real side with all its strength.
Emerging prospects Such as Raúl Asencio and Gonzalo García Were Handed A Starting Berth, But there were Also Debuts for Big-Name Meanings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, While The Likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Valverde All featured from the Opening Silbar.
On the other hand, it should be taken into account that, given the recent forms of large expenditure of the main sides of the SPL, the Hilal sent an alignment without scarcity of prominent names, including João Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Malcom and Sergej Milinković-Savić, but there was also a local representation in the form of Salem al-Dawsari, Nasser al-Dawsari and Hassari and Hassan.
Given the way in which Urawa and Ulsan were defeated convincingly one day, it was easy to assume that the Hilal would suffer the same destiny against the even stronger opposition, a notion that would only have been strengthened even more when Real broke the dead point in the 34th minute.
After winning possession near the midline, a scanning counterattack would see Garcia, 21, paid the faith of the new coach Xabi Alonso in him while applying the final touches, although with an end that was not the most convincing, to a precise cross of Rodrygo.
But only five minutes later, Al Hilal received a golden opportunity to match when Marcos Leonardo refused to give up a hopeful ball thrown forward and finally gained possession within the opposition area, only to be dragged by a desperate Asencio.
He is no stranger to the immense pressure given his previous experience in the Premier League with Lobos, as well as in the international stage with Portugal, Neves was barely disturbed by the 62,415 eyes of eyes at the Miami Hard Rock stadium while calmly sent to Courtchois in the wrong way from the point.
It seemed a mere formality that real, chopped for granting an equalizer, regrouped and finally claimed leadership, but never seemed to come after rest.
Even when Lucas Vázquez, Brahim Díaz, Arda Güler and finally Luka Modrić introduced themselves, nothing exceeded the indomitable central association of Al-Tambakti and Kalidou Koulibaly.
However, when the clock approached at minute 90, it seemed that a postponement had really arrived, in slightly doubtful circumstances.
While pursuing a loose ball inside its own area, Mohammed al-Qahtani spread a street arm that caught Fran García just in his face.
It could even have considered an incident outside the ball and, on other occasions, it could have been exhausted.
Even so, there have also been cases in which such action was considered a fault and, after the VAR review, this was one of those.
Alonso, undoubtedly anxious to bring his reign to a winning beginning, cut a nervous finger sitting at the corner of the Royal Bank. In truth, he would probably have sat a little more comfortably when he saw an Ilk player from Valverde take a step forward.
But Bouou is no stranger to the criminal heroic, especially when he faces the Spanish opposition. After all, there were his two salvages in the shooting against Spain that helped Morocco reach the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2022.
And, as he guess correctly to dive to his right and frustrate Valverde's attempt, he effectively secured a remarkable attraction for Al Hilal.
One that gave Asian football something to smile after an attempt to start the club's World Cup.
And one who saw Al Hilal issue a real statement of intention with the games, especially now that his most difficult test is out of the way, with games against Red Bull Salzburg and Pachuca to follow.
