Manchester City won the FIFA Club World Cup

Manchester City won the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia for the first time. In the final against the Brazilian Fluminense, the English club scored the first of its four goals in the first minute, without conceding a single one. Manchester City’s triumph continued the winning streak of European clubs in this tournament, which has lasted for 11 years.

There was almost no doubt at the end of the first minute that there was no need to expect a sensation in this final. It all started when 35-year-old Marcelo, one of the Fluminense veterans who won the World Team Championship four times with Real Madrid, decided to kick the ball from his own half of the field in the direction of “far away” and ran into an interception. This was followed by a shot from the left foot of Manchester City defender Nathan Ake, which loudly hit the goal post of the Brazilian champion, and a finishing shot by Argentine forward Julián Alvarez while falling with his chest. After this, the hopes of Fluminense, which already looked illusory, rushed to zero. After all, it was difficult to imagine that his formidable opponent, even without his injured scorer Erling Haaland, would not be able to take advantage of such a great head start.

And Manchester City, of course, took advantage of it. Individual attacks by Fluminense, a technical team, but very old and unable to impose constant pressure on the English favorite throughout the field, were not successful. Moreover, even before the break, the English lead doubled. Phil Foden, carrying out a cross from the left flank of the attack, fortunately hit defender Nin in the foot, as a result of which he chalked up an own goal. 43-year-old Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio helped his team out at least twice. Before the break, he parried a dangerous shot from Jack Grealish, and at the beginning of the second half, within a few seconds, he found himself in the spotlight twice, not allowing the same Grealish to score, and then Bernard Silva, who was finishing with a falling header. But he could not avoid defeat. In the 72nd minute, after Manchester City played a quick three-play involving Mateo Kovacic, Alvarez and Foden, everything became completely clear in this match. Moreover, in the end Alvarez scored a double, showing off his technique and a perfectly executed long-range strike.

The result is 4:0. Manchester City won the Club World Cup for the first time, extending the triumphant streak of European teams in this tournament to eleven years. The last South American club to take the honorary title was Brazilian Corinthians in 2012. For the English teams, this is their fourth victory. The previous three were won by Manchester United in 2008, Liverpool in 2019 and Chelsea in 2021. Teams from Brazil have the same number of titles, and the competition has been won eight times by Spanish giants.

As for the match for third place between the Egyptian Al-Ahly and the Japanese Urawa Red Diamonds, everything was clear there too in the middle of the first half. The African club won 4:2, becoming the bronze medalist of this tournament for the third time.

Evgeniy Fedyakov