In a hard-fought battle, Brazilian team Fluminense secured a spot in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final by defeating Egyptian champions Al Ahly 2-0 on Monday. This marked Fluminense’s first-ever appearance in the Club World Cup, and their victory came through a second-half penalty converted by Jhon Arias and a late goal from John Kennedy, overcoming a resilient challenge from Al Ahly.
The first half of the match was evenly contested, but the intensity heightened after halftime. Al Ahly displayed superiority and created numerous scoring opportunities, with Hussein El Shahat and Mohamed Hany coming close. However, Fluminense unexpectedly earned a penalty when Marcelo was fouled in the box, allowing Arias to break the deadlock with a successful spot-kick.
Despite Al Ahly’s continuous efforts to level the score, they faced vulnerability on the counterattack. Veteran striker German Cano had a shot denied by the goalkeeper, and young talent John Kennedy sealed the victory with a composed finish in the 89th minute after a swift break.
Fluminense’s clinical finishing proved decisive in the end, but they encountered a determined Al Ahly side that dominated significant portions of the second half before running out of steam. Fluminense will now advance to the Club World Cup final in Riyadh, facing either Manchester City or Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds on Friday, keeping their dream of being crowned world champions in their debut appearance alive.
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