Club World Cup: Manchester City brush aside Urawa and join Fluminense in final

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Manchester City, the overwhelming favourites for the competition, beat Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in the Club World Cup semi-finals in Jeddah on Tuesday and will face Brazil's Fluminense for the title.

Mateo Kovacic has just scored Manchester City's 2nd goal against Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds in Jeddah, on December 19, 2023 © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

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Deprived of their star striker Erling Haaland and their playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who had not sufficiently recovered from their injuries, the European champions had to wait until the added time of the first half to make the difference, with an own goal from the unfortunate Marius Hoibraten (45'+1). In the second half, Mateo Kovacic doubled the lead with a point-blank shot (53′), before Bernardo Silva added to the tally (59′).

However, this broad success has been difficult to validate. The first half was a long sequence of attack and defence, with the Champions League winners stifling their opponents without finding a way through the Red Diamonds' tightly knit defence.

Rodri lit the first fuse with a powerful low shot just wide (7′). Uninhibited, the Japanese responded in the next minute, with José Kanté coming close to intercepting a back pass from John Stones for Ederson.

On the half-hour mark, Matheus Nunes created the clearest chance but was denied by goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, as was Phil Foden (36').

By dint of suffering, of being pounded by the Mancunian attack, Urawa cracked on a cross from Matheus Nunes catapulted into his goal by Marius Hoibraten.

Back from the locker room, spurred on by almost the entire crowd at the King Abdullah Stadium, the Citizens stepped on the accelerator. They were rewarded with goals from Mateo Kovacic, who was well played in by Kyle Walker, and Bernardo Silva, who was fortunate, his shot being deflected by a defender just before the hour mark.

Trailing in the English league, City will face Fluminense on Friday in a much-anticipated duel between the Champions League and Copa Libertadores winners. Pep Guardiola will try to win a fourth trophy after those won with FC Barcelona (1, 2009) and Bayern Munich (2011).

Bernardo Silva (#20) closed the scoring for Manchester City, who beat Urawa in the Club World Cup final in Jeddah, on December 19, 2023 © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

Update on the competition

Tuesday 12 December, 1st round

Al Ittihad (KSA) - Auckland City (NZL) 3-0

Friday 15 December, 2nd round

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) - Club Léon (MEX) 1-0

Al Ahly (EGY) - Al Ittihad (KSA) 3-1

Monday, December 18

Semi-Final 1

Fluminense (BRA) - Al Ahly (EGY) 2-0

Tuesday, December 19

Semi-Final 2

Manchester City (ENG) - Urawa Red Diamonds (JAP) 3-0

Friday, December 22

(15:30 p.m.) 3rd place match

Al Ahly (EGY) - Urawa Red Diamonds (JAP)

(19:00) Final

Manchester City (ENG) - Fluminense (BRA)

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