Fluminense 2-0 Al Ahly (Dec 18, 2023) Game Analysis

Jhon Arias and John Kennedy scored within the second half to provide Brazilian facet Fluminense a hard-fought 2-0 win over Egypt’s Al-Ahly of their Club World Cup semifinal at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Monday.

Coached by Brazil caretaker supervisor Fernando Diniz, the Copa Libertadores champions will face the winners of Manchester City’s semifinal in opposition to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday in Friday’s closing in Jeddah.

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Arias scored from the penalty spot within the 71st minute after former Real Madrid full-back Marcelo was fouled contained in the field after a intelligent transfer.

“I always try to do something different [the nutmeg]. I’ve always tried in my whole career,” Marcelo advised Brazilian TV Globo. “At that moment, the game was in deadlock. I didn’t even think about a nutmeg, it happened, I thought about dribbling to get inside the area.

“So I managed to get in entrance of him and he fouled me. It wasn’t thought out, it got here on the spot and it was good.”

Substitute Kennedy added a second within the 89th minute with a strike to complete off a counter-attack.

While Marcelo helped create for the champion of South America at one finish, the 40-year-old defender Felipe Melo and 43-year-old goalkeeper Fábio protected on the different.

Felipe Melo produced a standout second of the primary half, racing again towards objective to sort out Percy Tau, who was poised to shoot.

Fábio’s calm and exact positional sense let him save repeatedly from Al Ahly’s 18 objective makes an attempt.

Fluminense and Al Ahly offered a throwback take a look at a contest dominated for twenty years by the wealthiest European golf equipment, who’ve employed waves of worldwide expertise.

A workforce of 11 South Americans together with 9 Brazilians began in opposition to 11 Africans together with 9 Egyptians.

Veteran Brazil internationals Marcelo and Felipe Melo are being rewarded once more for coming residence from lengthy careers in Europe to get pleasure from late blooms with the Copa Libertadores winner.

Though Fluminense was outshot 11 to a few within the half, each efforts by its Colombian winger Arias struck the left-hand submit of goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

Arias lastly scored his penalty after operating at a curious angle parallel to the objective earlier than he stopped, paused then positioned a right-foot shot past El Shenawy diving to his proper.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used on this story.