Real Madrid are into the Club World Cup final after a 4-1 win over Al Ahly, with Brazil duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo among the scorers.
Real Madrid reached a record fifth Club World Cup final with a resounding 4-1 win over Al Ahly in Wednesday’s semi-final in Rabat.
African champions Al Ahly had their fair share of chances, but Madrid’s top quality ensured they saw them off to set up a date with Al-Hilal in Saturday’s final.
Madrid broke the deadlock when Vinicius Junior finished in the 42nd minute before Federico Valverde put the Champions League winners 2-0 up just after the break.
Al Ahly halved the arrears thanks to an Ali Maaloul penalty before Luka Modric saw a free-kick saved, but Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas got on the scoresheet in stoppage time to leave Madrid eyeing a record fifth World Cup.
After an unexpected start that spurred Al Ahly on, chances came at both ends.
Mohamed Sherif and Mohamed Abdelmonem went close for Al Ahly before Vinicius tested Mohamed El-Shenawy from a tight angle.
Rodrygo then hit the left post shortly after from a similar situation, but Madrid netted just before half-time.
Aliou Dieng’s pass gave Mahmoud Metwaly too much to do and Vinicius pounced and cheekily finished over the onrushing El-Shenawy.
Valverde then showed great composure to score from close range after El-Shenawy parried Rodrygo’s effort less than two minutes into the second period.
However, Al Ahly soon restored hope, Maaloul coolly converting the spot-kick after Eduardo Camavinga’s clumsy trip on Hussein El Shahat.
Modric spurned a chance to restore Madrid’s two-goal lead with his own penalty in the end, but his failure did not matter.
Rodrygo’s cheeky finish in stoppage time put the game ahead for Al Ahly before Sergio Arribas found the bottom right corner to open his account for the senior side.
Al Ahly player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Shenawi (6); RB: Hany (6), CB: Metwali (4), CB: Abdelmonem (6), LB: Maaloul (6); CM: Sulaya (6), CM: Dieng (6); RM: Shahat (7), AM: Afsha (6), LM: Abdelkader (6); ST: Sherif (6)
Substitutes
Tau (5), Fathi (6), Mohamed (6), Kahraba (n/a)
Real Madrid player ratings
GK: Lunin (7); RB: Nacho (7), CB: Rudiger (7), CB: Alaba (7), LB: Camavinga (6); CM: Modric (7), CM: Tchouameni (7), CM: Kroos (7); RW: Valverde (8), ST: Rodrygo (9), LW: Vinicius Jr. (8)
Substitutes
Ceballos (6), Mariano (n/a), Arribas (7), Odriozola (n/a)
Player of the match – Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
