Real Madrid ensured themselves as the most successful team in the Club World Cup after beating Al Ain in this year’s final which took place at Sheikh Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Saturday (22/12) local time, as well as winning the fourth title. Madrid had opened opportunities when the match entered the fourth minute through a strike by Marcos Llorente who hit Ismail Ahmed so that it hit the post.
But the European Champion League champions are also not free from threats. In the 12th minute Sergio Ramos made an important save dispelling the ball which Hussein EI Shahat released. Two minutes from the turmoil at Thibaut Courtois, Los Blancos managed to score the first goal thanks to Luka Modric’s left-footed shot from outside the penalty box.
One minute later AI Ain was able to make the ball nested in Courtois goal, but the referee considered Caio Fernandez offside. Lucas Vazquez and Gareth Bale then presented a threat to AI Ain who only ended with a goal kick for Courtois.
The team that holds the title of host in the Club World Cup title is able to give a threat to equalize, but the quality of the final settlement that is not neat makes some opportunities wasted.
In the second half, Madrid appeared to attack from the start. Bale, Modric, and Karim Benzema got a chance that almost doubled El Real’s lead. The second goal for Madrid just created in the 60th minute. Again, a long-range goal was to complete the attack of the Spanish giants. Starting a corner kick taken by Toni Kroos, the ball was then driven out of the penalty box. Llorente who came from behind kicked the round skin with a first time right foot shot.
Entering the 78th minute it was Ramos’s turn to change the numbers on the scoreboard. His header welcomed Modric’s corner kick which was not able to be reached by goalkeeper Alin Khalid Eisa. Four minutes before the match, Tsukasa Shiotani ended Al Ain’s deficit to 1-3. Tsukasa headed the ball that Caio sent from a free kick.
Entering the first minute of injury time, Madrid added one more goal. Yahia Nader’s own goal which failed to anticipate Vinicius’s shot well made it 4-1 for Santiago Solari’s squad. The victory in the final match this time ensures Madrid won the Club World Cup for the fourth time. Previously Madrid won in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Real Madrid’s core players: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo; Lukas Modric, Marcos Llorente, Toni Kroos; Lucas Vazquez, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale.
Al Ain core players: Khalid Eisa; Mohamed Ahmed, Ismail Ahmed, Mohammed Fayez, Tsukasa Shiotani; Rayan Yaslam Mohamad, Mohamed Abdulrahman, Tongo Doumbia; Hussein El Shahat, Caio Fernandes; Marcus Berg.
