FIFA Club World Cup: Bounou’s Late Heroics Deny Real Madrid Win Against Al Hilal in 1-1 Thriller

A stunning last-minute penalty save by Yassine Bounou helped Al Hilal hold European giants Real Madrid to a dramatic 1-1 draw in their FIFA Club World Cup opener in Miami.

FIFA Club World Cup: Bounou’s Late Heroics Deny Real Madrid Win Against Al Hilal in 1-1 Thriller

Miami [US], June 19: Yassine Bounou delivered a moment of brilliance in the dying moments of the game, saving a penalty from Federico Valverde to ensure Al Hilal began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a thrilling 1-1 draw against Real Madrid in Miami. Despite a hard-fought performance from the Spanish giants, the Saudi side showed resilience and tactical strength to earn a valuable point on Thursday night.

The match began with Al Hilal pushing forward aggressively. They looked to stamp their authority early and found the net through Renan Lodi, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. However, Real Madrid weathered the early storm and struck first blood in the 34th minute. Rodrygo delivered a low cross which was met cleanly by Gonzalo Garcia, who finished with ease to give Madrid the lead.

But the Saudis responded quickly. A foul by Raul Asenscio on Marcos Leonardo in the penalty area earned Al Hilal a spot-kick just minutes later. Ruben Neves stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois in the 41st minute, leveling the score and setting the tone for a high-stakes second half.

Madrid coach Xabi Alonso introduced rising star Arda Guler in the second half, and the 20-year-old nearly made an immediate impact, rattling the crossbar with a thunderous effort. As Real Madrid pushed for a winner, Mohammed Alqahtani fouled Valverde in the dying minutes, presenting Los Blancos with a golden opportunity to seal the win.

But it wasn’t to be. With the game on the line, Yassine Bounou leapt to his right to make a spectacular penalty save, preserving the 1-1 scoreline and denying Madrid a winning start.

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Post-Match Reactions:

Gonzalo Garcia, who opened Madrid’s account, expressed mixed feelings:

“It is a bittersweet feeling. We wanted the win, we wanted to start with a good result. We fought until the end, but the opponent played a great game. I am sure the point we get today will be important in the upcoming matches.”

Thibaut Courtois echoed that sentiment, admitting Madrid’s struggles in the first half:

“I think we played better in the second half, and I believe that if we continue on the same path, we will win some matches.”

The man of the match, Yassine Bounou, praised his team’s discipline and focus:

“It was not an easy match. The opponent is strong, has top-class players, and plays at a very high level. They were tough in the second half, but we knew how to defend our goal. Thank God for the penalty save — as a goalkeeper, you have to do your job on the pitch.”

Xabi Alonso, reflecting on the performance, admitted it was a game of two halves:

“It is a pity we were not able to get the win. I did not really enjoy our performance in the first half. We played better in the second, managed to subdue the opponent, but we lacked the goal to win. Missing a penalty is something that can happen — and that is it.”

With this result, Group standings remain open, and both sides will look to capitalize in their upcoming matches.