Club World Cup

MANCHESTER CITY have beaten Fluminense 4-0 in Saudi Arabia to claim the Fifa Club World Cup.The Cityzens took the lead after just 40 seconds through Julian Alvarez’s instinctive finish.
An own goal from Nino doubled City’s lead on 27 minutes after Phil Foden’s effort was deflected past Fabio.
The academy graduate did get his goal after he tapped in from close range to make it 3-0 in the second half before Pep Guardiola was dealt a huge blow as midfield stalwart Rodri was forced off with an injury.
Julian Alvarez finished off proceedings with his second and City’s fourth as the English side took home their fifth honour of 2023.

Match result: Man City 4-0 Fluminense
Man City team: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, Lewis, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
Fluminense team: Fabio, Samuel Xavier, Nino, Felipe Melo, Marcelo, Andre, Martinelli, Jhon Arias, Ganso, Keno, Cano

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Man City are FIFA Club World Cup champions
For the first time in their club’s history Pep Guardiola’s side win the Club World Cup.
The celebrations will continue long into the night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Having won their first ever Champions League title last season, they have now ticked off another first.
Credit: Getty
The winner takes it all
Man City have been crowned FIFA Club World Cup winners.
Their dominant 4-0 victory of Fluminense tops off a perfect 2023 as they add it to the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the trophy cabinet.
Pep Guardiola wins the competition with his third team, further confirming him as one of the greatest managers in football.
Credit: AFP
Walker kicks off at final whistle
As the players shook hands after Man City’s comprehensive win, something happened between Filipe Melo and Kyle Walker.
The two players had to be separated as sparks flew.
Whatever was said, both players saw the red mist and there was certainly no love lost between the pair.
Credit: Getty
Credit: Getty
City will be concerned of Rodri injury
Despite the celebrations this evening, there will be huge concerns for the fitness of Rodri.
He seemed to twist his knee in a really unnatural way, with many fearing ligament damage as a result.
Rodri tried to continue but collapsed to the ground soon after.
As he came off, the player’s reaction seemed to suggest that he thought it was not good news for him.
Credit: Getty
Routine day in the office for Pep
Guardiola is going around, congratulating every member of Man City staff here at pitch-side.
It shows the personality of the man as he knows how integral everyone is to the collective cause.
Despite having won this trophy twice before, he seems to be enjoying this one as he wins it for the first time in the club’s history.
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Get your Phil of trophies
At 23-years-old, Phil Foden has won his sixteenth trophy as a Man City player, an unbelievable achievement.
What will mean more to Foden right now is the more game time he getting during these campaigns.
He has been on form for City this season and integral to a lot of their wins with some big players out injured.
Credit: Getty
FT: Man City 4-0 Fluminense
It is good to see these different continents do battle but the reality is the strength of the Premier League is no contest.
All too often in this competition, these games are always damage limitation against the European sides.
Man City won’t care, they have added another trophy to the cabinet in Jeddah this evening.
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FT: Man City 4-0 Fluminense
The referee puts the South Americans out of their misery.
Towards the end of the game, they just had nothing in the tank.
It is a deserved win for Man City, they huge trophy haul of 2023 continues.
Man City 4-0 Fluminense
90. As the cross comes in, Alvarez controls it then dummies a shot to sidestep the defender.
He then gets a right-footed shot away which nestles into the bottom corner of the goal.
Man City have equalled the highest score in this Club World Cup final, scored by Guardiola’s Barcelona some twelve years ago.
Goal – Julian Alvarez (Man City)
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
88. The Brazilian side have done well to get to this final.
They were never expected to win their own championship and surprised many last season.
Getting here was one thing, going toe to toe with Man City was just one step too far for them.
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
86. This has been a comfortable win for Man City.
Despite their huffing and puffing, Fluminense have not really tested Guardiola’s side in the final third.
This will be the third club Pep Guardiola has won this trophy with.
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
84. Kennedy is shown a yellow card for a foul on Nunez.
As the Man City player goes down he smashes into another defender.
Seems a painful one for the midfielder as his head strikes the Fluminense player.
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
82. Phil Foden comes off for Man City after picking up a knock.
Nunes and Bobb comes on for Ake and Foden.
Guardiola looking to rotate his side now in these closing stages.
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
80. Kennedy does well outside the box, weaving in between the defenders.
He lets a shot go from distance which Ederson has to tip over the crossbar.
Good play by the young Brazilian.
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
78. It was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Brazilians.
Conceding that early Alvarez goal made it so much more so.
There is a noticeable gulf in class between the sides.
Credit: AFP
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
76. Fluminense come forward once again.
A cross is swung into the box but Cano cannot get a head on it.
Man City come forward themselves with Bernardo Silva having a shot at goal but slices across it and sends it into the side netting.
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
74. Akanji and Gvardiol come on for Rodri and Stones.
The Spanish defensive midfielder is shaking his head as he comes off.
Man City will have to get some tests done on that knee to see if that injury keeps him out at all.
Man City 3-0 Fluminense
72. Alvarez does well on the left-hand side of the box.
He drills a ball across goal, which is met by the slide of Foden.
Great goal by Man City.
Meanwhile, Rodri has collapsed to the ground, he does not look in a good way.
Goal – Phil Foden (Man City)
Man City 2-0 Fluminense
70. Rodri seems to be in some severe pain for Man City as the physios treat him.
He is back to his feet but shaking his head.
Pep Guardiola will not want to lose the Spaniard for any length of time.
Credit: Getty
Man City 2-0 Fluminense
68. Fluminense break down the right once again.
Lima crosses into the box but Ederson reads it well to gather.
Brief glimpse of goal for the South Americans.
Alexsander is booked for a heavy challenge where he follows through on Rodri.
Man City 2-0 Fluminense
66. As the South Americans try to press in the final third, Man City counter attack at pace with Silva.
Kennedy runs the length of the pitch to chase him down.
Great energy from the young striker.
Man City 2-0 Fluminense
64. Fluminenese are continuing to battle in all fairness to them.
Grealish is penalised for a push in the back of Samuel Xavier.
Lima does brilliantly on the byline and finds Kennedy but he cannot work a shooting opportunity.
Man City 2-0 Fluminense
62. Kovacic comes on for Rico Lewis.
Pep Guardiola must be reading these posts.
Man City swing a corner in and it is met by the head of Stones but he cannot direct it towards goal. More