This Friday, December 22, Fluminense had a date with its history, playing for the first time in its history in a Club World Cup final, against Manchester City, after winning the Copa Libertadores, for the first time also.
For this final, after overtaking Al Ahly in the semi-final (2-0), Fernando Diniz decided to start the same eleven as that of the Libertadores final won against Boca, the same one as that put in place against Al Ahly. City recorded the absence of two of their executives, Haaland and De Bruyne, with Doku also withdrawn for this meeting.
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Cold shower for Fluminense in the first half
Unfortunately for Diniz’s men, Fluminense was picked up cold from the start of the match by the Citizens who scored the first goal of the match in the first minute, after the Argentinian Julián Álvarez, a surface fox, did not resume chest into the goal empty the shot that Nathan Aké had sent to Fàbio’s left post. A goal which sets a new record, that of being the fastest ever scored in a Club World Cup final.
Despite this catastrophic start to the match, the Brazilians did not panic, and tried to develop their game to try to come back to the score, not hesitating to press the Mancunian defense. A tactic which almost proved a winner, when Cano was brought down by Ederson in the area, for a proven penalty, which was unfortunately canceled due to offside.
5 minutes later, it will be a cold shower for Fluminense, when Nino deflects into his cages a ball sent by Foden from the left in the 29th minute.
No doubt stunned, the Fluminense players will remain amorphous for the rest of the half, with City taking possession of the ball. The score will no longer change during this period.
Citizen Master’s degree in second year
The second period will begin on the same basis, however with the entry from the start of John Kennedy, scorer in the semi-final against Al Ahly, and also the savior of his team against Boca.
During this period, we will witness a more conquering Fluminense, but who will not however be able to find the fault at City, while the English, for their part, will obtain a multitude of opportunities, and will come close several times to worsen the score.
At the hour mark, Diniz will replace his veterans, namely Felipe Melo, Marcelo and Ganso, thanks to the entries of Alexsander, Diogo Barbosa, and Lima, while the young Lewis will give way to Kovacic. Entries supposed to revitalize the Flu, and secure the meeting for City with control in the middle of the Croatian.
Diniz’s men will be a little more dangerous following these changes, but nothing will help, the Citizens, imperturbable, will end up worsening the score twice, with Álvarez serving Phoden in the 70th, then by the same Argentine in at the very end of the match (88th), to end up winning the match with a net score of 4-0, and at the same time winning their first Club World Cup title.
The finals are definitely decided on details.
