Andrii became the first Ukrainian to play at the World Club Championship.
Madrid “Real” defeated the Egyptian “Al-Ahly” in the semi-finals World Club Championship in 2023. The match in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, ended with a score 1:4.
“Vershkovy” took the lead at the end of the first half thanks to a precise shot by Vinicius Junior.
Federico Valverde strengthened Madrid’s advantage immediately after the break. In the 65th minute, “Al-Ahly” defender Ali Maalul avenged one goal, realizing a penalty.
In the 86th minute, Carlo Ancelotti’s wards had an opportunity to regain their two-goal handicap, but Luka Modric missed the penalty.
And yet, the Spanish club scored for the third time – Rodrigo scored in the 90th + 2nd minute. And in the 90th + 8th minute, Sergio Arribas brought the matter to a rout, sending the fourth ball into the net of the Egyptians’ goal.
The goal of “Real” in this match was defended by Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, since the main goalkeeper of “Royal Club” Thibaut Courtois misses tournament due to injury.
23-year-old Lunin became the first Ukrainian to play at the World Club Championship. In 2009, Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskyi won the Club World Cup with Barcelona, but then he did not participate in the matches.
In the final of the Club World Cup, “Real” will meet with “Al-Hilal” from Saudi Arabia, which defeated the Brazilian “Flamengo” with a score of 2:3 in the first final.
The final of the tournament will be held on Saturday, February 11. The decisive match starts at 21:00 Kyiv time. On the same day at 17:30, the match for the third place between “Al-Ahly” and “Flamengo” will begin.
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