Manchester City made history in Jeddah on Friday night, clinching their fifth trophy under manager Pep Guardiola by defeating Fluminense in the Club World Cup final. The game kicked off with a rapid goal from Julian Alvarez in the first minute. Subsequently, goals from Phil Foden, an own goal, and another from Alvarez secured a comfortable victory for Manchester City. The team’s performance was dominant, leading them to triumph in the final.
Julian Alvarez scored twice as Manchester City secured their inaugural FIFA Club World Cup title with a dominant 4-0 win over Fluminense in the final.
Phil Foden added to the celebration as Manchester City secured their fifth trophy of the year with a superb 4-0 victory over Fluminense. This triumph, following their successes in the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and Super Cup, marked a remarkable 2023 for Pep Guardiola’s team.
The quick breakthrough in Jeddah came within 40 seconds, with Julian Alvarez chesting the ball into an empty net after Fabio deflected Nathan Ake’s long-range strike onto the post.
Manchester City, the champions of Europe, extended their lead in the game with a 4-0 victory. In the 27th minute, Nino accidentally scored in his own net from Foden’s pass, making it 2-0. With 18 minutes left, Foden scored another goal from Alvarez’s pass, bringing the score to 3-0. Alvarez then added one more goal two minutes before the end, securing the win for Manchester City.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Julian Alvarez of Manchester City demonstrated his talent once again, scoring two impressive goals. He’s proven to be a reliable replacement for Erling Haaland. Additionally, Alvarez displayed excellent vision by setting up Foden for City’s third goal.
PLAYER RATINGS.
Manchester City: Ederson 7; Walker 7, Stones 7, Dias 7, Ake 8; Lewis 7, Rodri 8; Foden 8, Silva 7, Grealish 7; Alvarez 9*. Subs: Kovacic 6, Akanji 5, Gvardiol 5, Nunes 7, Bobb 5.
Fluminense: Fabio 7; Xavier 5, Nino 4, Melo 5, Marcelo 5; Andre 4, Martinelli 6, Arias 6, Ganso 5, Keno 4; Cano 5. Subs: Kennedy 6, Lima 5, Barbosa 5, Alexsander 5, Marlon 4.
Match Highlights
1′ – Manchester City leads 1-0 against Fluminense with a goal from Alvarez:
Fabio did well to save Ake’s long shot, tipping it onto the post. However, Alvarez seized the opportunity, cleverly chesting the ball into the net within the first 40 seconds.
27′ – Manchester City goes up 2-0 against Fluminense with an own goal by Nino:
In a skillful play, Foden maneuvered behind the defense. Attempting to pass to a teammate, the ball accidentally rebounded off Nino, finding its way into the bottom-right corner.
72′ – Manchester City leads 3-0 against Fluminense with a goal from Foden.
Foden, the English winger involved in the second goal, adds to the score by arriving late in the six-yard box and converting Alvarez’s precise pass into the center.
88′ – Manchester City extends their lead to 4-0 against Fluminense with another goal from Alvarez:
Nunes had a lot of space on the right side and passed to the Argentina forward. The forward then moved the ball to his right and scored in the bottom-left corner.
Discussion Point: Pep Guardiola Equals His Own Record as Manchester City Soars
Despite recent struggles in the Premier League, Manchester City demonstrated their strength in the match. They secured an early lead in just 40 seconds with a fantastic goal from Alvarez, indicating their dominance. The 4-0 victory was not just a regular win; it equaled the highest margin of victory in a FIFA Club World Cup final, a record set by Guardiola’s Barcelona 12 years ago against Santos.
Guardiola now makes history as the first manager to win this trophy four times, accomplishing this feat with three different clubs—Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and now, Manchester City. It’s a remarkable achievement for the seasoned manager.