Former Toronto FC talisman Sebastian Giovinco and his Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal have finished fourth in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup after falling on penalties to CF Monterrey following a 2-2 draw in the third-place match on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Luis Cardenas scored the decisive penalty after stopping two for Monterrey, who qualified for the tournament by winning the 2019 Concacaf Champions League.
Arturo Gonzalez and Maximiliano Meza scored in regulation for Rayados, which defeated MLS sides Sporting Kansas City and Atlanta United en route to the 2019 CCL title.
After playing 71 minutes and featuring in the buildup to Al Hilal's goal in their semifinal defeat to Flamengo, Giovinco went the full 90 in the third-place match.
He nearly scored a go-ahead goal from distance, only for Cardenas to palm away the redirected strike with a fine diving save in the 65th minute. Then in second-half stoppage time, he spotted Bafetimbi Gomis with a cross near the 6-yard box, but Gomis' flick on fizzed just wide of the far post.
In penalties, Giovinco easily converted as the second taker for Al Hilal, which lost the tiebreak 4-3.
Giovinco never faced Monterrey before he was transferred from Toronto FC to Al Hilal last winter, though he helped TFC aquit themselves well against other Liga MX Foes.
During the 2018 Concacaf Champions League, Toronto defeated UANL Tigres on away goals after tying on aggregate in the quarterfinals, beat Club America on aggregate in the semis, and then lost to Chivas in the final on penalties after tying on aggregate and away goals. Tigres did gain some measure of revenge with a 3-1 win over Toronto in the Campeones Cup later that year.
There was an MLS presence of sorts in the competition's final day, as Kyle Atkins, who normally works officiating crews in the league, served as the Assistant Video Assistant Referee for the Club World Cup final between Liverpool and Flamengo, also held on Saturday, which Liverpool won 1-0 in extra time.
