Flamengo come from behind to book Club Cup final slot
DOHA:Bruno Henrique scored one goal and made two more to book Flamengo’s place in the final of the Club World Cup as the Brazilian giants came from behind to beat Asian champions Al Hilal 3-1 here. Salem Aldawsari gave the Saudi club a deserved lead in the first half of this semi-final on a rare rainy night at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday, but Flamengo woke up after the interval and equalised through Giorgian De Arrascaeta in the 49th minute.
Bruno Henrique then headed home after 78 minutes and the Rio club made sure of their win when the same player’s low cross was turned into his own net by defender Ali Albulayhi with eight minutes to play.
The Brazilians will play the winner of Wednesday’s second semi-final in Doha, when Liverpool face Mexican club Monterrey. “This is the cherry on the cake on the season that Flamengo have had,” said Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, the former Benfica boss who also had a spell in charge at Al Hilal last year.
“I don’t care whether we play Liverpool or the Mexican side. We didn’t think about Liverpool before playing Al Hilal but I am always impressed with European football and I believe they are the favourites. When we came here to Qatar we wanted to win the Club World Cup, and now we want it even more.”
Fresh from winning the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian title in the last month, Flamengo are hoping to win this trophy for the first time.
However, they did win the old Intercontinental Cup in 1981, a side captained by Zico defeating Liverpool 3-0 in Tokyo. A rematch between the clubs now looks to be on the cards, unless Monterrey can pull off a major shock.
However, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp -- who was expected to attend this game before watching his own club’s second string play a League Cup tie against Aston Villa on television -- will have identified weaknesses his side might be able to exploit in a potential final.
Indeed, it looked halfway through this game that there might be another shock, with Flamengo in danger of losing in the semi-finals, just as River Plate had done last year in going out to Emirati side Al-Ain at the same stage.
Al Hilal won the Asian Champions League last month and boast the likes of ex-France striker Bafetimbi Gomis and diminutive Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco in their ranks.