Rabat, Feb. 12 (BNA): Real Madrid won the Club World Cup for a record fifth time, after defeating Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia 5-3 in the final on Saturday, with two goals from Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior, and a goal by Karim. Benzema.
It was a largely one-sided match at Emir Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where Real Madrid were never likely to relinquish control despite allowing their opponents to score three times, with Luciano Vito scoring twice as well.
A rowdy Moroccan crowd enjoyed a series of goals that started early, with the European champions opening the scoring in the 13th minute.
Valverde linked up with Benzema, who put the ball on the board for Vinicius to slip behind the defense to shoot from close range.
Valverde strengthened Real Madrid’s lead after five minutes on the rebound, but Al-Hilal responded with a goal by Musa Mariga in a counterattack.
Real controlled the tempo and had nearly 70% possession, but they were attacked several times in defence, with Marega and Vietto causing individual trouble against Antonio Rudiger and Eduardo Camavinga, who was once again playing as an offhand left-back.
Vinicius took center stage after the break, with the Brazilian showing off his skills against a beleaguered Al Hilal defence, with the crowd getting on their feet every time the jet-heeled Brazilian ran down the left channel.
Benzema set up Real Madrid’s third with a superb cross from the outside of his boot in the 54th minute, before Valverde extended his lead from close range.
Vietto pulled one back for Al-Hilal from another match five minutes later, but any hopes of a comeback quickly dissipated, as Vinicius added another to Real in the 69th minute with a clean shot, after playing the ball through the legs of one of the defenders.
Vietto scored his second goal of the night 10 minutes later to cap off a high-scoring encounter that delighted Moroccan fans.
Having also won three Intercontinental Cups, the predecessor to the Club World Cup that pitted the European and South American champions against each other, Real Madrid owns a total of eight world titles.
The next two teams are AC Milan and Bayern Munich with four titles each in the two tournaments.
“We are very happy,” said Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Telecinco. “For the eighth time, Real Madrid has won the world title.”
“We played a good game, we put in a lot of quality in attack. Vinicius, Benzema, Valverde…they did very well. They showed skills and quality. It was great.”
Rial