Saudi Arabia: Manchester City has defeated Fluminense 4-0 to win FIFA’s Club World Cup. After winning the Champions League the previous season, Pep Guardiola’s team entered the tournament with a strong lead.
Within 40 seconds, Alvarez scored, chesting in from close range after Nathan Ake’s long-range effort had struck the post.
When Fluminense’s Nino turned Phil Foden’s cross into his net in the 27th minute, they added a second goal. The Argentine forward then scored his second goal in the 88th minute with a clinical strike into the far corner after England’s Foden darted through the middle to poke in Alvarez’s cross earlier in the half.
With their triumph, City not only became the first English team to win five trophies in a calendar year, but they also lifted the Club World Cup, following in the footsteps of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
August saw the FIFA Super Cup, which came after the previous season’s treble of winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
“It was an incredible year. Today we closed the chapter. We won everything we could. Now time to try again,” said Guardiola.
However, Rodri’s injury near the end of the second half, who was so important to the team, took some of the lustre off their victory.
Al Ahly, an Egyptian team, defeated the Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds 4-2 to take third place. With their victory in Jeddah, City wrapped up an incredible year filled with trophies.
Guardiola has expressed his desire to “close the circle” and hoist the trophy that he feels will complete City’s collection, even though winning the Club World Cup has historically meant less to English teams.
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