Abu Dhabi - Strikes from Modric, Llorente, skipper Ramos and an own goal silenced the 40,600 crowd.
Published: Sun 23 Dec 2018, 9:42 PM
Defending champions Real Madrid won their record fourth and third straight Fifa Club World Cup title by beating hosts Al Ain 4-1 in the final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Strikes from Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric, Marcos Llorente, skipper Sergio Ramos and an own goal saddened the 40,600 crowd.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated Real Madrid for their victory. Sheikh Mohammed also applauded Al Ain FC for their performance. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, sent similar messages to both teams.
Al Ain, led by Ismail Ahmed, marched out of the tunnel with Real superstars, as equals. And the 'Boss' started the battle in same vein - fearless and unperturbed by the reputation of the opponent. Mohamed Abdulrahman tackled Modric, Hussein Elshahat tested Thibaut Courtois, Tongo Doumbia forced Ramos to back pass, Caio rubbed shoulders with Dani Carvajal and Khalid Eisa flew to keep Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale. And all of this action happened in the first 10 minutes.
Just two minutes later, Elshahat stole a back header from Marcelo, dashed into Real box past Courtois and fired but Ramos took the bullet.
At the other end, Benzema set Modric with a lovely pass, and the midfielder with ample space, curled the ball to the left post for the first strike of the evening. There was no scope for Eisa to fend this one.
Immediately Al Ain found the back of net through creative Caio but was ruled offside as the winger had set too early on Elshahat pass.
Striker Lucas Vazquez, Toni Kroos and Bale ticked off spots on the goal with thunderous volleys but Eisa was alert on all occasions.
It was end-to-end encounter as Al Ain, despite a goal down, mounted pressure on Real. Al Ain were mentally prepared for such a scenario. But in 39 minutes, it could have been worse but Eisa produced double saves - Bale header and Modric's long-ranger.
And just before the half Ramos was booked for clumsy tackle on Caio, thereby, raking up memories of Mohammed Saleh injury saga.
Real, after the break, pushed with more vigour. Modric slipped into the box like a breeze and Bale tried a bicycle kick but Al Ain back line - Ismail, Mohammed Fayez, Mohamed Ahmed - held fort. Twice Bale combined in a one-two with Benzema but both efforts were denied by Eisa. The keeper threw his body into every attack launched.
Despite Al Ain parking a bus, Real found a way past. In 60 minutes, Kroos' corner was cleared by Mohamed Ahmed but Marcos Llorente bludgeoned the ball into left post to double the lead. And Real made it 3-0 in 78 minutes as Ramos headed home from Modric corner.
Al Ain had played some 330 minutes plus two penalties before this final but continued to attack. And in 86 minutes, the home team pulled one back as Tsukasa Shiotani smoked Caio's free-kick past Courtois.
But misery struck Al Ain as substitute Yahia Nader ended with an own goal while tapping in Vinicius' strike.
Despite the anti-climax, Al Ain ended a glorious night for the Asian continent and with heads held high. They fell short in terms of quality but had intent and fire in their belly to put a performance worthy of a final.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
Goals:
Real Madrid: Luka Modric (14), Marcos Llorente (60), Sergio Ramos (78), Yahia Nader (90+)
Al Ain: Tsukasa Shiotani (86)
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