FIFA Club World Cup: Manchester City clinch maiden title
Manchester City made history by beating Fluminense 4-0 to win the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™.
It saw them become the first English team to conquer the competition at their first attempt – Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea had failed – and Pep Guardiola outrank Carlo Ancelotti and claim and outright-record fourth crown as coach.
The roar from kick-off had barely settled when the fastest goal in the tournament’s history snapped the deadlock. Fabio fingertipped a Nathan Ake curler from outside the box on to the post, and Julian Alvarez chested the ball into the unguarded net.
City doubled the lead when Rodri cannily slipped Phil Foden through and the latter’s centre was inadvertently diverted into the Fluminense net by Nino.
Guardiola’s side continued to control the game and they made it 3-0 18 minutes from time. Alvarez was the creator on this occasion, sending in an inviting cross which the onrushing Foden slotted in from close range.
The outstanding Alvarez rounded off the scoring late in the game when he rifled an unstoppable finish beyond Fabio after some sublime close control.
Al Ahly claimed the bronze medal following a six-goal thriller against Urawa Reds in the play-off for third place at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.
Ahly opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Mohamed Hany’s 30-yard effort proved too powerful to hold for Shusaka Nishikawa, with his attempted save sending the ball spinning high into the air before being tapped home by the grateful Yasser Ibrahim.
And the Reds’ misery was compounded when Atsuki Ito allowed himself to be robbed of possession on the edge of his own box, with Ahmed Koka rolling the ball into Percy Tau’s path to smash beyond the helpless Nishikawa.
But the Asian Champions League winners pulled themselves back into the contest shortly before the interval, with Jose Kante despatching a curling volley with the outside of his left boot following a poor defensive header from Ali Maaloul.
And they were back on level terms in the 54th minute with Alexander Scholz calmy firing his penalty straight down the middle after referee Tori Penso pointed to the spot following a VAR review with Mohamed Hany guilty of handball.
However the topsy-turvy contest was settled with Hany going from villain to hero as his strike on the hour mark deflected off the unfortunate Yoshio Koizumi and into the back of the net, before Maaloul missed the opportunity to make the game safe when his poor penalty was held by Nishikawa.
But Maaloul made amends in the eighth minute of added time, curling home a delightful free-kick from the edge of the box to set the seal on an enthralling contest.
