Flamengo book final berth

Brazilian giants come from behind to beat Asian champions Al Hilal

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 in Doha yesterday.

Salem Aldawsari gave the Saudi club a deserved lead in the first half of this semifinal on a rare rainy night at the Khalifa International Stadium, 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 the second semifinal in Doha, when Liverpool face

Mexican club Monterrey overnight

“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.

Al Hilal were the better team in the first half and deserved the lead given to them in the 18th minute when Salem met a low ball in from the right with a first-time strike that deflected off defender Pablo Mari into the net.

Jesus managed to rouse his side at the interval and they needed just four minutes to haul themselves level when a lovely move ended with Bruno Henrique squaring for the Uruguayan De Arrascaeta to score.

Bruno Henrique, who is a Brazilian international forward, then ended any possibility of the game going to extra time when he met Rafinha’s cross with a thumping header to make it 2-1 before forcing the own goal that made sure of the victory to the delight of the several thousand travelling Brazilian supporters. –

AFP