Saudi Arabia And Al-Dawsari Shock South America Again As Al-Hilal Knock Flamengo Out Of Club World Cup

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a little over two months ago, Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari scored the goal that defeated Argentina in the opening game of Group C.

Saudi Arabia didn’t pick up any more points in that group, and Argentina went on to win the tournament but the country, and Al-Dawsari, had their rare moment in the spotlight on football’s global stage.

Or maybe not so rare. At the latest FIFA Club World Cup, Saudi Arabian football is upsetting the odds once again and, once again, Al-Dawsari is the player scoring the goals to help it do so.

In Tangier, Morroco, on Tuesday night Al-Dawsari’s cub side, Al-Hilal, knocked Brazilian giants Flamengo out of the Club World Cup.

Flamengo were favorites to reach the final along with Real Madrid who play Egyptian side Al Ahly in the other semifinal.

Right from the start, it was evident that Al-Hilal would be no pushovers, and the first shock came when Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs pointed to the spot following Matheuzinho’s clumsy tackle from behind on Hilal’s Argentine No. 10, Luciano Vietto.

With ice-cold composure, Al-Dawsari dispatched the penalty past Flamengo goalkeeper Santos who had guessed the right way but still couldn’t reach it.

A Saudi Arabian team was now shocking Brazil just as they had Argentina at the World Cup, this time with Argentines on their side in the shape of Vietto and head coach Ramon Diaz. The pair knew better than anyone the potential the Asian champions had of causing an upset, and approached this game with no fear.

An equaliser from Pedro, who had featured for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, gave the impression it would only be a matter of time before Flamengo took control as expected, but the game remained competitive.

Then, deep into first-half added time, another shock and another penalty for Al-Hilal following a VAR check. Vietto went down when Gerson, as clumsily as Matheuzinho before him, stood on his foot. It looked like there could also have been a stray elbow from David Luiz, but it wasn’t clear and the Gerson challenge itself was enough to award the penalty.

To make matters worse for the South American champions, Gerson was already on a yellow card, and the second shown after this incident changed the complexion of the game in Hilal’s favor.

Cool again, Al-Dawsari chose the other side of the goal, sending Santos the wrong way to make it 2-1.

Al-Hilal are reigning Saudi and Asian champions having won the AFC Champions League in 2021 (the 2022 edition runs until April 2023 as the tournament transitions to an autumn-spring schedule). They were able to show their familiarity with winning by making full use of the extra man and seeing the game out.

Their threat on the counter-attack against Flamengo’s increasingly disorganised backline was combined with some patient periods of possession and, eventually, a third goal, scored by Vietto and assisted by Al-Dawsari with 20 minutes to go.

Pedro gave Flamengo some hope with a second in added time, but even six minutes extra wasn’t enough for the Brazilians.

Saudi Arabia and Al-Dawsari had surprised South America again on the world stage, ironically with help from an Argentine coach and player.

In Qatar, Argentina were able to recover from the goals scored by Saleh Al-Shehri amd Al-Dawsari in a 2-1 defeat which, in many ways, spurred them on to win a World Cup in iconic fashion for Lionel Messi. They were to be the last goals Argentina conceded in the group, and Lionel Scaloni’s side would not lose another match from then on.

For Flamengo, there was no such chance for recovery. The short nature of the Club World Cup means knockout games all the way through, and the 2022 Copa Libertadores champions will now have to fight for third place in Rabat on Saturday, rather than for first.

For Al-Hilal, for Al-Dawsari, and for Saudi Arabian football, the journey continues. A similar upset in Rabat will prove even more difficult, but if their attacking players can make a difference in key moments as they did in the semifinal, they might have a chance.