Bounou saves late pen in Madrid draw with Al Hilal

Real Madrid laboured to a 1-1 gully against a spirited Al Hilal successful the Club World Cup connected Wednesday arsenic Xabi Alonso's managerial debut for the 15-time European champions delivered lone flashes of committedness successful searing Miami vigor astatine a astir sold-out Hard Rock Stadium.

A last-gasp punishment from Federico Valverde, saved by Al Hilal's Yassine Bounou, summed up a time erstwhile Madrid's legs, and ideas, wilted successful the vigor and humidity.

Gonzalo García, stepping successful for the fever-stricken Kylian Mbappé, gave Madrid an aboriginal pb with a composed finish, but Rúben Neves levelled from the spot earlier halftime arsenic Simone Inzaghi's men showed antiaircraft grit and capable attacking intent to rattle their illustrious opponents.

Madrid was handed their accidental astatine triumph erstwhile VAR spotted a foul by Al Hilal's Mohammed Alqahtani connected Fran Garcia successful the container and the referee awarded the spot footwear aft checking the pitchside monitor.

Valverde stepped up to instrumentality the punishment 2 minutes into added time, but his debased effort into the bottommost country was saved by Bounou, sparking chaotic celebrations from his teammates.

RB Salzburg and Pachuca conscionable successful the different Group H fixture aboriginal connected Wednesday. Madrid volition adjacent look the Mexican broadside connected Sunday, portion Al Hilal volition instrumentality connected Salzburg successful what could beryllium a decisive clash for qualification to the knockout stage.