Manchester City clinched their inaugural FIFA Club World Cup title by overpowering Fluminense in Saudi Arabia, with Julian Alvarez’s double securing a historic victory. Pep Guardiola’s side, entering the tournament as reigning Champions League winners, got off to a flying start as Alvarez swiftly capitalized after just 40 seconds, slotting in from close range following Nathan Ake’s powerful shot that rebounded off the post.
The English club solidified their lead in the 27th minute when an own goal by Nino, redirecting Phil Foden’s cross, further strengthened City’s advantage.
In the second half, Foden stamped his mark on the match by capitalizing on Alvarez’s delivery, darting through the middle to extend City’s lead. Alvarez then sealed the win with a precise strike into the far corner in the 88th minute, securing his brace and crowning City as champions.
This triumph not only saw City join the ranks of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea in lifting the Club World Cup but also marked a historical feat as the first English team to claim five trophies in a calendar year. Their achievements included the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Guardiola, reflecting on the monumental year, expressed his team’s remarkable journey, stating, “It was an incredible year. Today we closed the chapter. We won everything we could. Now time to try again.”
However, the victory was somewhat overshadowed by Rodri’s injury towards the end of the game, impacting the celebratory mood.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Al Ahly secured third place with a 4-2 victory against Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, while City’s triumph in Jeddah marked the pinnacle of a sensational year for the club.
While the significance of the Club World Cup for English sides has varied, Guardiola was keen on sealing this title to add to City’s collection. Despite it being their first appearance in the tournament, Guardiola’s prior success with Barcelona and Bayern Munich motivated him to assemble a formidable lineup, resulting in a dominant performance from the Premier League champions.
Guardiola admitted, “We were a little lucky at the start, we got the ball and scored early, and then they had an incredible 10-12 minutes that made you realize how tough it would be.”
As City basks in the glory of their global triumph, they turn their attention back to domestic competitions, aiming to regain momentum in the Premier League. With their eyes set on their next fixture against Everton, City aims to leverage their recent success to reignite their title defense in the league after a somewhat turbulent spell of results.
