FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2023 - CITY IN THE FINAL
Majestic Manchester marches to the final!
Will face Brazilian Fluminense FC for the FIFA Club World Cup summit clash
Urawa Reds 0
Manchester City FC 3
Goal Scorers - (Marius Hoibraten (OG)
45'+1' min.
Mateo Kovacic 52 min.
Bernardo Silva 59 min.)
Man of the Match - Rodri
Tournament favourites Manchester City FC marched into the FIFA Club World Cup final beating Urawa Reds 3-0 in FIFA Club World Cup semi final at King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
City will now face Will face Brazilian Fluminense FC in the Friday night final. It will be the maiden FIFA Club World Cup trophy for either of them. Would City lift the trophy, they would achieve the rare feet of winning all possible trophies in the club football.
In spite of recent poor form in the Premier League and a heavy workload, City showed the professionalism to edge out their Japanese opponents.
Urawa Reds held the fort till the injury time of the first half. It seemed that absence of star sticker Erling Haaland and midfielder maestro Kevin De Bruyne would cost City dearly. But, typical City style of possession football (67 %} and the sustained pressure paid off. Urawa did not manage to strike a single shot towards City goal. On the other hand City struck 13 with 4 on target.
Jack Grealish's left wing moves were effective creating few chances to Silva and Manuel Nunes. Phil Foden, stationed at the right wing moved into the middle giving way to Silva on the right flank. At the dying seconds of the one minute injury time in the first half, City again swiftly entered the final third from the right wing of Urawa Reds. The move paid off and Reds' defender couldn't clear the Nunes' cross deflecting it into his own net. Till that point of time Urawa custodian Shusaku Nishikawa did his best to keep the clean sheet. This dyeing minute lifeline put the City totally in command of the contest.
After the breather, City was seen sharper on the attacking moves. With a surprise through pass from the captain Kyle Walker right from the backline, Mateo Kovacic easily put the running ball into Urawa net at 52nd minute. It was his maiden goal in the City blue colours.
As City pressed hard the third goal was inevitable. Nunes' shot was well blocked away but only to land at the feet of Silva. He made no mistake in striking it pass the goal keeper to keep City at the commanding 3-0 position at 59th minute.
Urawa improved upon the ball possession count in the second half. But, never threatened City goal. With a rare move from Urawa forwards, City keeper Ederson.had to come at the top of the box to make his maiden save of the game at 80th minute.
Match Statistics
Possession -
Urawa Reds 46 %
Manchester City 42 %
In contest - 12 %
Attempts on goal - (on target)
Urawa Reds 8/1
Manchester City 19/5