Manchester City beat Fluminense 4–0 in the Club World Cup final.
Manchester City easily beat Fluminense in the Club World Cup final. PDO
It was already suspected in advance that the World Cup final for club teams would be a Manchester City showdown.
European clubs have won the previous ten world championships, and even now the budget of Brazilian opponent Fluminense is only a fraction of City’s.
Still, not many people expected such a lightning start. Nathan Aké bombed the ball into the post after only 40 seconds of play. The ball bounced by Julián Álvarez within reach and the Argentinian skillfully completed the opening goal alongside him.
It is naturally the fastest complete hit in the World Cup history of club teams.
Fluminensa from Rio de Janeiro is a really tough football team, but in a losing position they had to open their pack. City struck another just under the half-hour mark, when Phil Foden tried to pass the ball in front of the goal.
Flu skipper Nino however, slid in front of the game tool. However, the pass break turned into an own goal, as the ball got a wild bounce from the defender’s knee over the goalkeeper Fabio.
Rodri was injured
Álvarez and Foden settled the final for good midway through the second period. The Argentinian passed and City’s own growl slid the ball into Fluminense’s net for the third time.
Right after, however, the Manchester side suffered a bad setback when the midfield dynamo Rodri hobbled in pain to the exchange.
The Spaniard probably injured his knee in a tackle Alexsander’s with. City’s next match in the Premier League awaits on the 27th, when the world champions travel to Everton’s Goodison Park.
The match is going to be much more difficult than the World Cup final, especially if Rodri has to take a long sick leave.
Right at the end of the match, Álvarez enjoyed another 4–0 final score.
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Manager Pep Guardiola (left) and Mateo Kovačić are already used to championship celebrations. PDO
From Croatian From Mateo Kovačić became the first player to win the World Cup gold for club teams five times. His previous championships have come with Real Madrid (three times) and Chelsea.
After the final whistle, Kovačić had a long chat with his teammate from Real Madrid Marcelo’s with. The 35-year-old Brazilian’s dream of a fifth World Cup gold ended in a crushing defeat.
Also the City manager Pep Guardiola broke records. The Catalan now became a four-time club world champion and the first to lead three different clubs to gold (Barcelona and Bayern Munich previously).