Having defeated Urawa Red Diamonds in midweek, Manchester City had set up a mouthwatering FIFA Club World Cup Final tie against South American champions Fluminense. Should the Citizens prevail at the King Abdullah Sports City, they would add yet another trophy to their rather full cabinet of honours.
MCI: Ederson; Aké, Dias, Stones, Walker; Rodri, Lewis; Grealish, Foden, Silva; Álvarez
FLU: Fábio; Marcelo, Melo, Nino, Xavier; Martinelli, André; Keno, Ganso, Arias; Cano
It took just 40 seconds for Julian Álvarez to open the scoring in Saudi Arabia on Friday, chesting the ball over the line from close range as he capitalised on the rebound of Nathan Aké’s initial strike that struck the woodwork.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe UEFA Champions League winners would add their second before the half-hour mark, with Nino inadvertently sending Phil Foden’s cross into the back of his own net, putting Manchester City on course to become just the fourth English side to lift the FIFA Club World Cup.
The young English international would register a goal of his own in the second half, dashing through the heart of the Fluminense defence to latch onto Álvarez’s cross and put any hopes of a Brazilian comeback to bed.
Perhaps not quite content with his goal and assist, Álvarez notched his third goal contribution of the game in the 88th minute as he picked out the far corner with remarkable precision – sealing Manchester City’s fifth trophy of the calendar year.
Embed from Getty ImagesPep Guardiola’s side still have two matches to play before the end of the year though, and they’ll head to Goodison Park on December 27th to face an in-form Everton side. They then return to the Etihad Stadium, welcoming Sheffield United on December 30th.
