The Spanish giant did not fail and will once again dispute the ‘Mundialito’ title. (AFP)
Real Madrid overcame Al Ahly with difficulties and a misleading win (4-1) and qualified this Wednesday for the Club World Cup final, in which they will face Ramón Díaz’s Al Hilal, Flamengo’s executioner, on Saturday.
The European champion prevailed with goals from the Brazilians Vinicius Jr. (42′) and Rodrygo (90+2′), from Uruguayan Federico Valverde (46′) and Sergio Arribas (90+8′), while for the Al Ahly reduced criminal the tunisian Ali Maaloul (65′).
Still limping after a difficult return to the World Cup, with several defeats and a full infirmary -six injured-, the Real Madrid He took the game forward thanks to the quality of his players against a brave Al Ahly capable of creating clear scoring situations.
Great atmosphere in Rabat
In the early stages the fun was in the stands: ‘oles’ could be heard in the long transitions of Carlo Ancelotti’s team and after a quarter of an hour the 43,000 spectators were executing a perfect wave.
But the players claimed attention with a fun back and forth of chances in which, surprisingly, none went up on the scoreboard.
For him Real Madrid Antonio Rudiger headed centered (17′), Vinícius opened his foot too wide in a pass into the net (28′) after passing into the hole from Rodrygowho in the next action masterfully stung the post after a fine dribble.
He Al Ahly He was not far behind: Mohamed Sherif was close to completing a counterattack to the squad (18′), the center-back Mohamed Abdelmoneim finished off high with a header (26′) and Hussein Elshahat tried with a whiplash (31′) to which he responded with a shortcut Andriy Luninreplacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Finally, the African runner-up shot himself in the foot and delivered the tray to make it 1-0: a mistake by his defense left ‘Vini’ alone with the ball, who cold-bloodedly picked up the ball before Mohamed Elshenawy left.
The Swiss coach of the African giant, Marcel KollerHe had kept his word. His team was brave, but reality had put everyone in his place. Mistakes against Madrid are expensive.
MADRIDISTAS ?
FINALISTS ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/onWbNP9G2q— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) February 8, 2023
Camavinga gives away a penalty
Al Ahly left the locker room asleep. Rodrygo lost one-on-one against Elshenawy after a pass into space by Luka Modric, but appeared valverde to erase a defender with a touch and release the leg to score.
But Eduardo Camavinga, converted into a left back in recent weeks, paid for his inexperience with a penal indisputable about Elshahat. Ali Maaloul he tricked Lunin to score.
Al Ahly was back in the game and came close to drawing with a very clear shot that went high from Mohamed Afsha (69′).
The Egyptians harassed the Spanish, who seemed to be breathing when the Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte signaled penal to Vinícius after consulting the VAR. elshenawyhowever, guessed the intentions of Modric and prevented the goal (88 ‘).
The one who did not forgive was Rodrygoafter a spectacular combination with Dani Ceballos, who left a cue on a tray for the Brazilian, whose balloon this time did enter (90 + 3 ‘).
With everything decided the youth squad Sergio Arribas the last goal was scored as soon as he entered the field (90 + 8 ‘).
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— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) February 8, 2023
