Vinicius Junior dazzled in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg in Philadelphia on Thursday night, propelling the Spanish giants into the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup. The win secured first place in Group H for Real Madrid, much to the delight of the 64,811 fans braving the heavy rain at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Brazilian forward opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a stunning left-footed strike from just outside the box, capitalizing on a perfectly timed breakaway pass from Jude Bellingham. The slick, rain-soaked conditions didn’t deter Vinicius, who navigated the pitch with ease.
Just eight minutes into the second half, Vinicius showcased his playmaking skills. Under pressure from Salzburg defender Joane Gadou, he delivered a brilliant backheel pass to an unmarked Federico Valverde, who calmly slotted the ball home from 10 yards out, doubling Real Madrid’s lead.
However, the victory was dampened by an apparent hamstring injury to defender Antonio Rüdiger in the 60th minute. After a lengthy sprint down the right flank, Rüdiger was substituted off six minutes later, raising concerns over Real Madrid’s defensive options, with the squad already thin at center-back due to injuries and Raúl Asencio‘s suspension.
Real Madrid sealed the win in the 84th minute when Gonzalo García executed a deft chip shot following a counterattack he initiated by dispossessing Gadou at midfield.
With this victory, Real Madrid becomes the ninth European team to advance to the tournament’s round of 16. They will face Group G runners-up Juventus on Tuesday, setting up an exciting clash.
Al Hilal Reach Round of 16 with Win Over Pachuca
In the other Group H match, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal secured a 2-0 win over Mexico’s Pachuca in Nashville, clinching their spot in the round of 16. Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a remarkable effort, as the ball ricocheted off his right foot and soared over Pachuca goalkeeper Sebastián Jurado.
Marcus Leonardo added a second goal for Al Hilal, making them the only team from outside Europe and the Americas to advance past the group stage. They are set to face English side Manchester City on Monday in Orlando.
Pachuca’s tournament ends without a win, as they struggled to find form against their Group H opponents.
