Al Hilal set up semifinal clash with Chelsea after hammering Al Jazira in Club World Cup

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:00 am
Odion Ighalo scored Al Hilal's first goal to draw them level.
Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Asian champions Al Hilal thrashed Al Jazira 6-1 in the second round of the Club World Cup at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, booking themselves a semifinal date with Chelsea.

Al Jazira opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Abdoulaye Diaby turned in a cross from just outside the six-yard box, but Al Hilal struck twice before the break through former Premier League players Odion Ighalo and Matheus Pereira.

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The equaliser came when Al Hilal midfielder Mohamed Kanno danced into the box and floated a lob that was deflected into the path of striker Ighalo who headed home from point blank range.

Four minutes later, Pereira received Salem Al-Dawsari's back-heel pass, turned and fired into the bottom corner to put the Saudi Arabian side ahead.

The third goal came when Pereira's cross from a corner found Kanno who got ahead of his marker to head the ball in.

Moussa Marega then played in Al-Dawsari, who rounded the keeper to direct the ball into an empty net.

Marega made it five when a corner kick pinballed around the box before falling at his feet and leaving only the goalkeeper to beat. Andre Carrillo made it a tennis score with a goal from the penalty spot in added time.

Al Hilal will play Champions League winners Chelsea in the semi-final on Wednesday, after Brazil's Palmeiras take on Egypt's Al Ahly in the other semi on Tuesday.