The Most Popular Club in Brazil

The most popular club in Brazil, which will face the winner of the match between English Liverpool and Mexican Monterrey in the final next Saturday, started losing, just like in the final of the Libertadores a month ago in Lima against River Plate, but recovered in the second half.

Flamengo, who will play in the Club World Cup final after 38 years, won with goals from Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Bruno Henrique, and an own goal by Albulayhi.

The Al-Hilal coach, Romanian Razvan Lucescu, surprised by lining up a more offensive team than the one used to beat Esperance (1-0) with Frenchman Bafetimbi Gomis up front, and Italian Sebastian Giovinco, Peruvian André Carrillo, Brazilian Carlos Eduardo, and Colombian Gustavo Cuéllar supporting him.

The most popular club in Brazil started attacking with more insistence and Arrascaeta won a corner kick in the 2nd minute.

The Saudi team took five minutes to organize on the field but from a play by Carrillo they put Flamengo to run behind their successive offensives, mainly with Gomis, Giovinco, and a surprising Salem Aldawsari.

The first dangerous shot, however, was made by Gerson taking advantage of a rebound inside the box and almost opening the scoreboard.

Al-Halil immediately reacted with a great play by Aldawsari that goalkeeper Diego Alves had difficulties in neutralizing. Immediately after, Gomis took advantage of the rebound but without aim.

The pressure from the Saudis finally paid off in the 18th minute with a play initiated by Giovanco and concluded by Aldawsari with a shot inside the box that ended up deceiving Diego Alves after a deflection by Spaniard Pablo Marí.

Just like in the Libertadores final, in which they had to come from behind after River Plate opened the scoring, Flamengo came out attacking in search of the equalizer, but vulnerable at the back, they opened up space for Al-Hilal players who then surprised with fast counterattacks.

The Brazilian team seemed lost on the field with their defenses abusing fouls and the dangerous Gabigol completely neutralized by four players who took turns marking him.

The Saudis, to the despair of the South Americans, preferred to manage their partial advantage until the end of the first half.

As expected, Flamengo came out all out in the second half and, shortly after a dangerous play by Gabigol, Arrascaeta scored the equalizer in the 49th minute by pushing a ball from inside the box that Bruno Henrique touched after invading the area.

The goal didn't stop the Brazilians who went after the victory always looking for Gabigol, while Al-Hilal had difficulties in recovering the composure that characterized them in the first half.

The parity lasted until there were 12 minutes left when, in a quick counterattack, Bruno Henrique headed a cross made by Rafinha from the right and put the Libertadores champion ahead on the scoreboard.

Albulayhi sealed the victory in the 82nd minute with an own goal while trying to deflect a pass from Bruno Henrique to Gabigol, who was waiting just a few meters from the goal.

With a two-goal advantage and eight minutes left, and a player more on the field due to Carrillo's expulsion, Flamengo preferred to manage the result and touch the ball while waiting for the final whistle.

Technical Sheet:

3. Flamengo: Diego Alves; Rafinha, Rodrigo Caio, Pablo Marí, Filipe Luís; Gérson (m.73, Diego), Willian Arao, Giorgian De Arrascaeta (m.93, Piris da Motta); Éverton Ribeiro, Bruno Henrique (m.88, Vitinho), and Gabriel Barbosa 'Gabigol'.

Coach: Jorge Jesus.

1. Al-Hilal: Abdullah Al Muaiouf; Mohamed Al Burayk, Hyun-Soo Jang, Ali Albulayhi, Yasser Al Shahrani; Gustavo Cuéllar, Carlos Eduardo, Salem Aldawsari (m.83, Alabid), André Carrillo, Sebastián Giovinco (m.70, Omar Khrbin); and Bafetimbi Gomis (m.91, Otayf).

Coach: Razvan Lucescu.

Goals: 0-1, min.18: Salem Aldawsari. 1-1, min.49: Arrascaeta. 2-1, min.78: Bruno Henrique. 3-1, min.81: Albulayhi.

Referee: Moroccan-American Ismail Elfath expelled Carrillo and cautioned Henrique, Giovanco, Marí, Albulayhi, and Aldawsari.

Incidents: match for the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals played at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.