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| Real Madrid beat Al-Hilal to win Club World Cup [Susana Vera/Reuters]. |
Real Madrid has now won the Club World Cup five times overall,
breaking the previous record after defeating Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia 5-3 in
the final match in Rabat, Morocco.
The European champions won the match on Saturday thanks to two
goals from Vinicius Junior, a third from Karim Benzema, and two more from
Federico Valverde.
Al-Hilal never had a lead in the game, but it was clear that their
stun of Flamengo of Brazil to advance to the championship final in Rabat,
Morocco's capital, wasn't a fluke. The Asian champions got a goal each from
Luciano Vietto and Moussa Marega.
Madrid last claimed victory in 2018. In 2014, 2016, and 2017, it
also won the award.
“Vinicius has been improving since last season just as the team
has also grown. We won the Champions League and now the world title, and
Vinicius has grown along the way,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“We are thrilled with what he is doing, above all because he keeps
getting better. He is much more decisive now and is making the difference in
every match.”
The inclusion of Benzema in Madrid's starting lineup a day after
Ancelotti claimed it was touch-and-go as to whether he would be able to play at
all came as a small surprise. The winner of the Ballon d'Or has missed Madrid's
previous two contests, including Wednesday's 4-1 semifinal victory against the
Egyptian team Al Ahly.
The French striker put Vinicius clean to beat Abdullah Al-Mayouf
in goal after exchanging passes with Valverde. Al-Mayouf got a leg to the shot
but was unable to stop it from going into his net.
In the 18th minute, Valverde slammed a shoddy clearance through
the legs of a defender, who diverted it just enough for it to go past Al-Mayouf
and double the lead.
Al-Hilal, though, got its footing as Marega caught Madrid's
backline while attempting to break an offside trap in the 26th minute, after
failing to even complete three passes in the first stanza.
The backup goaltender for Madrid, Andriy Lunin, who began in place
of the injured Thibaut Courtois, seemed unfazed as the former Porto striker
raced away.
Al-Hilal was in control after scoring, and Madrid was halted until
Benzema scored on an incredible pass from Vinicius.
The Brazilian forward met Benzema's darting move by bending a
short cross around a defender with the outside edge of his right foot. In the
54th minute, Benzema accomplished the rest by launching it into the top of the
goal with only one touch.
In the 58th, Valverde scored his second.
Vietto scored in the 63rd and 79th minutes, respectively, as
Madrid's defence failed to keep tabs on the Argentine in the area. His goals
came either side of Vinicius' second goal.
Al-Hilal lost the opportunity to attempt a last-ditch equaliser
due to a late Marega miss.
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Source: HR Forum News
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