Bono’s impressive stop for Al Hilal against Spanish giants Real Madrid saves the day
Al Hilal stepped up just as the FIFA World Cup sliped further away for Asian football after Urawa Red Diamonds and Ulsan HD both met opening defeats against Argentine River Plate and South African Mamelodi Sundowns last Tuesday. It was not a good looking start, especially when Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia broke the deadlock against Al Hilal by the 34-minute mark the next day, but things were about to change.
Goalkeeper Yassine ‘Bono’ Bounou and Al Hilal gave Spain’s finest, Real Madrid, a real run for their money with an impressive 1-1 draw in a FIFA Club World Cup opener on Wednesday at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. The Saudi Pro League team cut it impressively close with long-time La Liga goalkeeper Yassine Bounou making a game-changing save. The Quebec-born Moroccan international Bounou read right through Valverde's penalty by diving low and to the right and making the heroic save.
When it comes to Spanish opposition, Bono is no stranger to penalty heroics - it was he, after all, who helped bring Morocco to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals for their first time ever in 2022 with his two saves in the shootout against Spain. Bono began his career in the academy of fellow CWC participant Wydad AC. He also spent time on the books at Atletico Madrid, also playing for Real Zaragoza, Sevilla, and Girona. This time, it was his smart gamble to the right, catching Valverde’s penalty shot and securing the draw for Al Hilal that put him in the spotlight.
This astounding performance by Bono and Al Hilal under new coach Simone Inzaghi serves as a real statement of potential and intent about the game they plan on playing.
