Straight
Madrid took it seriously, Ancelotti left nothing behind and Vinicius, without jokes, quickly devoted himself to football. Enough for the Spanish team to send Egyptian Ahly who caused them more trouble than expected despite the final score. A benchmark team in Africa but still Siberian for all their best efforts to face a European ordeal. The logic, the real at the end of the tiny mundialito well named by the popular demoscopia. Far from the pompous league promoted by FIFA, a mandatory tournament for clubs like Real. An appointment with pincers on the calendar, with more hooks for FIFA and teams with more soul than football. The Ahly for example. For these clubs, reality was once again the dregs of illusion, no matter how visible it was in the game up until the Spanish opposition’s final appearance.
1
Mohamed El-Shenawy, Ali Maâloul, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Mohamed Hany, Mahmoud Metwaly, Hussein El Shahat (Taher Mohamed, min. 74), Ahmed Abdelkader, Amr Soleya, Aliou Dieng, Mohamed Sherif and Mohamed Magdy (Kahraba, min. 87)
4
Andriy Lunin, Camavinga, Alaba, Nacho, Rüdiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Modric (Álvaro Odriozola, min. 94), Kroos (Dani Ceballos, min. 77), Federico Valverde, Vinicius Junior (Sergio Arribas, min. 97) and Rodrygo ( Mariano, minute 95)
Goals 0-1 min 42: Vinicius Jr. 0-2 mins. 46: Federico Valverde. 1-2 mins. 64: Ali Maâloul. 1-3 mins. 92: Rodrigo. 1-4 mins 98: Sergio Arribas.
referee Andres Matonte
Yellow cards Aurelien Tchouameni (min. 84)
Al Ahly refused to play the role of a resilient team despite Vinicius giving them a bath of objectivity before the break. Amid the Spanish dispute with the Brazilian, focused and disciplined, Vinicius began his journey ahead of the Jackals by winning the semi-final against Madrid. In Morocco, like at the World Cup, in the real game, even if it was set in Qatar, there was no rival who would unsettle him. Vinicius, serious and himself, as the first white shuttle.
Ancelotti was categorically off the starting line-up. No concessions. Without Courtois, Militão and Benzema, in front of which in perfect magazine condition. Alaba returned, Rodrygo played against Benzema and Kroos and Modric joined the cause. The rattle, Vinicius. History was on his side. And in both directions. On this route, which Camavinga closed, El Ahly was encouraged, especially El Shahat, who was on the alert Lunin, determined before a bloody shot by the Egyptian. And spectators in front of a shot from Sherif and a header from Ahmed. Marcel Koller’s team was fired. As a replica, Rodrygo and Vinicius.
Catalyzed by Kroos, Madrid demanded patience and perseverance. Waiting time for the two Brazilians, the obvious difference. Vinicius missed a finger shot and his compatriot’s shot exploded in front of El Shenawy’s right post.
The Egyptian champions were still not permeable when Vinicius took away Metwaly. He accelerated, headed for El Shenawy and sent the Egyptian goalkeeper off the rails with a small bite. Vinicius, prophetically. Just soccer, no more bullshit.
Vinicius’ goal had continuity right after the second act. Immediately, Valverde, stunned and sold out by Qatar, took advantage of another collapse in the African defense and decided the game with aplomb and finesse. All in favor of Madrid, who knows what the hell went through the minds of the referee squad not to award Vinicius a penalty. Yes, there was a penalty for the madridistas with a mistake by Camavinga that knocked out El Sahat. Maaloul scored the 1:2.
It was no coincidence that the play was performed on the banks of Camavinga, where Vinicius and Kroos provided little help. A gap in the back of Ancelotti’s men. The best vein for El Ahly, a believer after cutting the score. It happens that Koller had a trainer attack and El Shahat, the main white torment, withdrew. Back then, Vinicius and Rodrygo briefly parked, El Ahly referring to Madrid, which was not short of hot flashes. As proof, a header from Taher that pushed Lunin to the limit. At that point, Ceballos was already in place as a replacement for Kroos. Madrid were missing a final stretch but without Benzema and Asensio there was little left for Mariano, a broom wagon recruit in whom Ancelotti has very little faith. Maybe also because Mariano has little trust in Mariano. It didn’t seem necessary because the Brazilian comrades reappeared. Question of time. Solia sent Vinicius to the canvas. Modric review, penalty and skid. Or the success of El Shenawy, because it is already known that punishment can change the role of the executioner and the victim.
Modric was redeemed by Ceballos, who was the most willing to tear down the wall of the eternal Croat. His small heel on Rodrygo was a delight not to be missed by the Brazilian. The final was imminent, even more so when Arribas sealed the fourth goal with his first touch. A win with exciting moments to face Madrid with Al-Hilal in the final on Saturday.
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