Club World Cup: Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras. Chelsea champion

In Abu Dhabi, Chelsea finally lift their first Club World Cup after the missed opportunity ten years ago. The man of destiny is always him, Kai Havertz, already executioner of Manchester City in the Champions League final. The German repeated himself, scoring the decisive goal from a penalty kick in the 117th minute. In 2012 Corinthians had beaten the English with Guerrero’s goal, this time instead Palmeiras had to surrender to the European champions.

The match

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The initial stages of the game are study. The Brazilians wait and try to leave, while the Blues can’t find spaces between the lines. The first opportunity arises from a counterattack, led by Raphael Veiga who serves the rushing Dudu but his throttled shot ends on the side. Tuchel was forced to replace Mount due to an injury in the half hour, in the final of the fraction even Chelsea showed himself dangerously with the conclusion from outside the area of ​​Thiago Silva, stretched for a corner by Weverton. Upon returning from the locker room, Palmeiras loses a little distance and the English do not forgive: in the 54th minute Lukaku stands out in the center of the area on the Hudson-Odoi cross without leaving the goalkeeper a chance. The advantage, however, lasts a few minutes. From the developments of a lineout, the Brazilian defender anticipates former Milan Gustavo Gomez with his hand, who has risen to go and jump. The Australian referee Beath does not notice it, Irrati in the video room instead yes and calls the colleague to the review: the images do not give space to interpretation, it is a penalty kick. Veiga shows up from the spot and displaces Mendy and restores balance (63 ‘). The doubling ball landed on Pulisic’s feet in the 73rd minute, but his placement from the edge of the area ended just wide. The equality holds up until the end of regular time and the match is on the way to penalty kicks, five minutes from the end of extra time but Luan replies Azpilicueta’s volley in the area. Beath does not even see this, Irrati saves him again: Havertz displaces Weverton and gives the trophy to Chelsea. When the time is up, then Luan completes the disaster by being expelled for a foul on the German launched on the net.

Al-Ahly third

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The bronze medal goes to Al-Ahly, who drops the poker against Al-Hilal. First half an hour literally nightmare for the Arabs, who go down by two goals and two men. In fact, at 8 ‘Fathy immediately unlocks the match with a header from close range on the development of a free kick, six minutes later the first red arrives: an unexceptionable decision by Turpin, who punishes the very dangerous entry of Matheus Pereira at midfield. At 17 ‘the Egyptians find the doubling, always from an inactive ball and again with a head with Ibrahim. Leonardo Jardim’s team sinks definitively when Kanno away from the action trims a kick to an opponent, a naivety in the Var era that is worth another expulsion (28 ‘). At the end of the first half comes the trio of Abdel Kader, who beats Al-Owais on his post after winning a rebound in the area. The goal that fixed the result on the final 4-0 is from El-Soleya with a shot from distance on which the goalkeeper of Al-Hilal is not without fault.