World Soccer - UK (2020-02)

semi-final with Mexico’s Monterrey. “We
knew first that we would be invited to the
Club World Cup before we knew how far
we would go in the League Cup, so that’s
how it is. For us, we are here: we don’t fly
3,000 miles, we don’t fly that distance,
not to show up.”
Against Monterrey of Mexico, Liverpool
did struggle without defensive anchor
Van Dijk, who had been ruled out of
the semi-final due to illness.
In their fourth Club World Cup,
Monterrey eliminated hosts Al Sadd
3-2 in the second round, the Qatari
champions – coached by former
Barcelona midfielder Xavi – having sent
maiden finalists Hienghene Sport from
New Caledonia home in the tournament’s
curtain raiser, 3-1. A first-half equaliser
from Antoine Roine was not enough
to prevent Al Sadd from running out
winners in the first round with extra-
time strikes from Abdelkarrim Hassan
and Pedro.
In the semi-final, Keita opened the
scoring for Liverpool in the 12th minute
after a superb reverse through ball from
Mohamed Salah, before Rogelio Funes
Mori equalised within two minutes for
Monterrey. The Mexicans exposed
Liverpool’s makeshift defence, with
Henderson dropping into central defence
and James Milner deputising at right-
back. Henderson didn’t provide Van Dijk’s
thrust and security, and Monterrey’s
Dorlan Pabon proved a scourge for the
English rearguard. In the 27th minute,
the Mexican captain forced a fine save
from Alisson.
After the interval, Klopp switched
to a 4-2-3-1 formation to reinforce his
midfield. However, Liverpool still needed
Alisson’s presence of mind to prevent
Pabon and Funes Mori from giving
the CONCACAF champions the lead.
Monterrey’s pace and strength unsettled
Liverpool. The Mexicans even demanded
a red card for Joe Gomez when, already
booked, the defender was penalised
for handball.
On the touchline, Klopp berated
his Monterrey counterpart Antonio
Mohamed, who later commented: “For
me, there was a red card, especially the

first foul and the second. So, I talked to

the referee. Maybe a Liverpool shirt has

more weight, therefore the Liverpool

player wasn’t sent off.”

Klopp introduced Mane, Alexander-

Arnold and Roberto Firmino, and the

latter two combined to ensure passage

to the Final when the Brazilian tapped

in an injury-time cross.

On the other side of the draw,

Flamengo played Asian champions Al

Hilal in the last four. The Saudi club had

eliminated African champions Esperance

in the second round with a single goal

from substitute Bafetimbi Gomis.

Esperance demonstrated robust

organisation and marking, but they were

underwhelmed in attack. However, they

came good to win a fifth-place play-off

against 10-man Al Sadd with winger

Hamdou Elhouni’s hat-trick dismantling

the hosts in a 6-2 win, a result that left

coach Xavi fuming and under pressure.

“I’m very sad, very disappointed and

very angry because we played the first

two matches really well,” he said. “We are

Al Sadd and we’re playing against African

champions and our attitude during the

first 20 minutes isn’t acceptable.”

For Flamengo, the Al Hilal semi-final

represented a pitfall. Last year, the UAE’s

Al Ain had knocked out River Plate at

the same stage and past South American

champions Internacional, Atletico Mineiro

and Nacional had all suffered similar fates

in recent Club World Cups.

In the 18th minute, Salem Al Dawsari

handed the Saudi team the lead from

close range, highlighting the fact that

Al Hilal’s financial muscle under the

patronage of Saudi prince Alwaleed Bin

Talal, along with its efforts on talent

development and storied history,

were a potent mix to overcome.

A sloppy Flamengo were given a reality

check by Al Hilal before the Brazilian club

rediscovered their penchant for stirring

comebacks in the second half. The

vulnerable Willian Arao dropped deeper,

and Barbosa and Bruno Henrique played

closer to each other. In the 49th minute,

De Arrascaeta was on the end of a slick

move to equalise. The introduction of

Diego swayed the game in Flamengo’s

favour. First, Bruno Henrique and then Ali

Al Buhaili’s own goal sealed Al Hilal’s fate.

In the Final, a repeat of Flamengo’s

greatest moment in history – when

the Rio club, led by Zico, breezed

past the English club 3-0 in the 1981

Attack...Al Hilal’s

Sebastian Giovinco

takes on Flamengo

Going home...

Hienghene Sport

concede to Al Sadd