Manchester City swept past Urawa Red Diamonds to set up a meeting with South American champions Fluminense in the final of the Club World Cup on Friday.
Pep Guardiola’s side dominated throughout and went ahead when Urawa defender Marius Hoibraten turned Matheus Nunes’ cross into his own net on the stroke of half time.
The Japanese club had offered plenty of resistance until then and limited City to few clear-cut opportunities.
However, after the break it was a different story, with Mateo Kovacic quickly adding City’s second – running through the heart of an absent Urawa defence to latch on to Kyle Walker’s pass and lift his effort past goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.
Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva added City’s third before the hour mark, guiding a effort low into the bottom right corner after his international team-mate Nunes had a shot blocked by Nishikawa.
In truth, City’s margin of victory could and should have been more with Nunes, Jack Grealish and second-half substitutes Oscar Bobb and Julian Alvarez all failing to convert good opportunities when well placed.
Brazil’s Fluminense had beaten Al Ahly 2-0 in the first semi-final played on Monday and City’s victory ensures the 13th meeting between the champions of Europe and their South American counterparts in the showpiece match since 2005.
Source: BBC
