And it ends 4:1 in favor of Real Madrid. It was a respectable showing by Al Ahly until the third goal in the 92nd minute. They made Madrid work for it. That score-line is too flattering for los merengues.
Matchday 4 - Summary: M1 | 01.02.23 | Al Ahly - Auckland City 3:0 (First Round) - Highlights M2 | 04.02.23 | Seattle Sounders - Al Ahly 0:1 (Second Round) - Highlights M3 | 04.02.23 | Wydad Casablanca - Al Hilal 1:1/3:5 PSO (Second Round) - Highlights M4 | 07.02.23 | CR Flamengo - Al Hilal 2:3 (Semi-Final) - Highlights M5 | 08.02.23 | Al Ahly - Real Madrid 1:4 (Semi-Final) - Highlights M6 | 11.02.23 | Al Ahly - CR Flamengo (Match for 3rd Place) M7 | 11.02.23 | Real Madrid - Al Hilal (Final)
Yesterday they announced that the third place match would be moved to Tangier, rather than serve as the first match of the Rabat "final doubleheader". Supposedly to have the grass in better condition for the final. This of course creates a problem with the tickets. Yet another last minute announcement for this CWC. What a shambles. They better have a plan for the 2023 CWC (in December?)
Karim Benzema and Eder Militao have arrived in Rabat and should be available for Real Madrid in the final after having treated their injuries. Real Madrid are of course after a record-extending eighth club world championship. Al Hilal will have to play a near perfect match (with a moment of luck or three) to deny them and bring the title to Asia for the first time. Otherwise it's ten in a row for the European champions. Assuming the expansion happens in 2025, there are three opportunities left to wrestle away a title from UEFA until it gets very, very difficult to do so. And it all starts with tomorrow's final. The third place match, which I will unfortunately miss due to a social engagement, also promises to be an interesting one. Al Ahly aim for a third consecutive bronze medal while Flamengo will do their best to avoid a repeat of the Palmeiras performance in 2020 (unprecedented fourth place).
Halftime: Real Madrid - Al Hilal 2:1 Al Hilal managed to respond to two early Madrid goals, keeping the game in the balance. Looks like I missed quite the third place match. Flamengo claimed it 4:2, but was down 2:1 until the 77th minute!
4:2 for Real Madrid with just over 20 minutes to go. Lots of goals today in Morocco! [Edit] And there is the 5th. This one is over.
Eh not really. Personally I'd rather see a close, tight game against two evenly matched teams. Although it's high-scoring, this game was never really close with Madrid getting an early 2 goal lead at the beginning of either halfs... Goals are fun, but not really much thrill or intensity..
Matchday 5 - Summary: M1 | 01.02.23 | Al Ahly - Auckland City 3:0 (First Round) - Highlights M2 | 04.02.23 | Seattle Sounders - Al Ahly 0:1 (Second Round) - Highlights M3 | 04.02.23 | Wydad Casablanca - Al Hilal 1:1/3:5 PSO (Second Round) - Highlights M4 | 07.02.23 | CR Flamengo - Al Hilal 2:3 (Semi-Final) - Highlights M5 | 08.02.23 | Al Ahly - Real Madrid 1:4 (Semi-Final) - Highlights M6 | 11.02.23 | Al Ahly - CR Flamengo 2:4 (Match for 3rd Place) - Highlights M7 | 11.02.23 | Real Madrid - Al Hilal 5:3 (Final) - Highlights
Flamengo fans threaten legal action against FIFA after last-minute CWC venue switch Under-fire Ahly striker Sherif apologises for missing critical scoring chance in Club World Cup Club World Cup runners-up Al Hilal given hero's welcome on return to Riyadh 📸 More Hilal, More Celebrations 🎉 #AlHilal_WCrunnerup 🥈#AlHilal 💙 pic.twitter.com/Lsqk8OhT2H— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) February 12, 2023 Without checking, I don't think the European champions conceded three goals since Gamba Osaka netted three against Manchester United in 2008 for an identical scoreline.
eh yeah, but on the other hand, no team has ever conceded 5 goals in a club world cup final either so I guess Al Hilal and Real Madrid have a pact not to mention either