Manchester City vs Fluminense 4-0: Club World Cup final – as it happened
All the updates as Manchester City beat Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup final in Jeddah.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Manchester City beat Fluminense 4-0 in the Club World Cup final on Friday, December 22, 2023:
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Manchester City beat Fluminense 4-0 in the Club World Cup final on Friday, December 22, 2023:
- England’s Manchester City beat Brazil’s Fluminese in the Club World Cup final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- European champions City cap off an incredible, title-laden year with their maiden Club World Cup title.
- Copa Libertadores winners Fluminese fail to end Europe’s dominance of the competition which stretches back to 2012 when Corinthians beat Chelsea.
- Egypt’s CAF Champions League Al Ahly claim the bronze medal beating Japan’s AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds 4-2 int he first game of the day.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Goodbye from the blog
So, Manchester City claim a fifth title in 2023.
Pep Guardiola becomes the first manager to lift the Club World Cup with three different clubs. Matteo Kovacic takes the same record as a player.
City are crowned champions of the world.
We hope you enjoyed our live blog of the game in Jeddah.
We’ll be back on Saturday with another live blog from Anfield as Liverpool entertain Premier League pace setters Arsenal.
All the build-up and full-text commentary on the live blog begins three hours before the kickoff at 17:30 GMT.
We do hope you can join us – for now, though it’s goodbye from the Al Jazeera Sport team.
Champions.@ManCity | #ClubWC pic.twitter.com/ehswRF7INP
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 22, 2023
Walker lifts the Club World Cup
Manchester City are crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions.
The fireworks go off around the roof of the stadium in Jeddah as the trophy is lifted by the City captain in front of his players.
City prepare to lift the trophy
Pep Guardiola leads his players to the podium to collect their Club World Cup winners medals before receiving the trophy itself.
That winning feeling. 📸
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 22, 2023
Praise from the Premier League
Another piece of silverware for @ManCity 👏
They are victorious in the FIFA Club World Cup Final! pic.twitter.com/Mc2WwfhHwK
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 22, 2023
Manchester is blue
And so is the world after the final.
CHAMPIONS AGAIN! OLÉ, OLÉ! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/OUCgiEBvEs
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 22, 2023
Rodri wins the Golden Ball Award
The City playmaker is awarded the the Golden Ball Award as the player of the tournament. Kyle Walker won the Silver Ball Award as the second-best player in this edition of the Club World Cup.
Your #ClubWC @adidas Golden Ball winner is... 🥁
📢 Rodri!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 22, 2023
Brazil legend Kaka brings out the trophy
Fluminense could have done with Kaka on the field against Manchester City.
The former AC Milan forward brings the trophy to the podium where the FIFA delegation and representatives of City await.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is front and centre.
The FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the 2023 edition goes to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad. It’s the first trophy awarded on podium.
City’s celebrations begin
City are starting to revel in their achievement – and who could blame them.
Foden said he was “over the world” – City are certainly on top of it right now.
The best team in the land and all the world! 𩵠pic.twitter.com/CtTcGC3fSW
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 22, 2023
Foden feels ‘over the world’
Phil Foden scored City’s third goal of the game but says it was not as easy as it looked to beat Fluminense.
“It was an unbelievable match,” the midfielder told TNT Sports. “Fair play to them. I like they way they play – short passes.
“They [Fluminense] didn’t make it easy today but the lads showed heart and determination. We are not used to playing in this heat so it was difficult but I’m delighted with the outcome.
“This one is so important for the club. It’s the first time we have won it so it’s massive for the club. I’m over the world.”
🌟 @PhilFoden 🌟 pic.twitter.com/376HYIaRDs
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 22, 2023
Champions of the world
The Premier League, the FA Cup, the Champions League, the Uefa Super Cup and now the FIFA Club World Cup.
A fifth trophy in 2023 and Manchester City are indeed champions of the world – has there been a more deserving winner of the title?
CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD! 🌍🏆 pic.twitter.com/QShqsMf35X
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 22, 2023
Guardiola and Kovacic go into the record books
Pep Guardiola amd Matteo Kovacic go into the record book as the first manager and player respectively to win the Club World Cup with three different clubs.
Kovacic won it twice with Real Madrid and once with Chelsea prior to his substitute appearance in this final.
FULL-TIME | #ClubWC WINNERS! 🌍🏆
🩵 4-0 🔴 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/MmRfc6fYxE
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 22, 2023
The tackles left a mark for sure
Kyle Walker has got involved in a scuffle and all the players rush in. Was it a reaction to the tackling in the second half or did frustration boil over from one of the Fluminense players after the whistle?
It seems to settle as quickly as it started. The rush was lead by peacemakers it seems.
City win the Club World Cup
The referee blows the whistle precisely on the 90 minute mark.
Full time: Manchester City 4-0 Fluminense
Goal!
A second for Alvarez.
A majestic first touch takes the City forward away from the Fluminense defence before he drills low past the keeper from 12 yards (11-metres).
88 minutes: Manchester City 4-0 Fluminense
City will also take away a few bruises
Nunes is the latest player to feel a fierce challenge from Fluminense.
It’s clearly frustration from the Brazilians.
Guardiola will be hoping the Rodri injury isn’t too bad and that the rest escape unscathed.
Fluminense seem determined to leave a mark of some sort on this game.
85 minutes: Manchester City 3-0 Fluminense
Two more City subs
Foden and Ake come off for Nunes and Bobb.
City have the game wrapped up and it’s a chance to shine for some of the stars of the next generation while resting a few first-choice players.
81 minutes: Manchester City 3-0 Fluminense
Kennedy shines again
The 21-year-old surges from the halfway line and unleashes a left-footed shot from the edge of the box.
It had swerve as well as power but Ederson was equal to it and pushed it over before punching the resulting corner clear.
79 minutes: Manchester City 3-0 Fluminense
Rodri’s game is over
Rodri comes off for Akanji. Guardiola had no choice with the game won. No point in risking perhaps City’s most important player.
Stones also come off for Gvardiol.
Nino is off for Marlon for Fluminense.
75 minutes: Manchester City 3-0 Fluminense
Goal!
Foden settles it.
City win the second ball on the edge of the final third and find room on the left with Alvarez, who crosses to the back post where Foden slides in.
Much like the game, so simple for City.
72 minutes: Manchester City 3-0 Fluminense
Rodri is hurt
Rodri is clattered by a hard challenge for which Alexander is booked.
The sub may be lucky that it was only a yellow. The first foot was heavy and the second followed through. Not far off scissoring Rodri.
He stays on for now, but surely Guardiola will take him off.
69 minutes: Manchester City 2-0 Fluminense
A spark from the Brazilians
Lima finds his way into the area with a slaloming run.
He releases the ball for Kennedy, who tries to jink clear of two defenders but City shut the door as the striker attempts to shoot.
Much better tempo from Fluminense.
65 minutes: Manchester City 2-0 Fluminense
Marcelo is subbed
No great surprise that Marcelo comes off after the manner of the booking.
The last thing that Fluminense need is to go down to 10 men.
Felipe Melo and Gano also depart in a triple change for the Brazilians. Alexsander, Diogo Barbosa and Lima come on.
Kovacic, who scored in the semifinal, comes on for Rico Lewis.
61 minutes: Manchester City 2-0 Fluminense
Marcelo booked
Pure frustration for four-time winner Marcelo as he kicks the back of Rico Lewis’s legs and is booked.
That pretty much sums up the game for the former Real Madrid star and his teammates.
The former Barcelona boss, Guardiola, is by far the happier of the two El Clasico legends in this game.
56 minutes: Manchester City 2-0 Fluminense
It’s as you were in the second half
City take a free kick quickly as Foden darts through the back line to receive the ball on the inside left of the box.
He steers the ball along the floor to the back post where the ball could have gone anywhere among a host of bodies.
Fortunately for Fluminense, they clear from virtually on their goal line.
At this rate, it won’t be 2-0 for much longer.
52 minutes: Manchester City 2-0 Fluminense
So close for City
Fabio is equal to a fine drive from outside the box by Foden.
The ball drops to Bernardo Silva but he can’t get enough power on his header to beat the keeper in the follow-up.
48 minutes: Manchester City 2-0 Fluminense