Football
Fluminense - Al Ahly live online: first half, score, stats & updates | Club World Cup 2023 semi-final
Fluminense - Al Ahly: live updates
OFF THE POST FROM ARIAS
Fantastic play from Flu: the ball is played from left to right by Keno and it's met by Arias, who crashes a volley off the upright!
El Shahat goes down inside the box and wants a penalty but the referee says 'no, sir'.
CHANCE FOR AL AHLY
Percy Tau hits a rocket effort from the right side of the box that is deflected and bounces dangerously on top of Fábio's goal.
It's a scrappy Game breaking out in the middle third as both teams are compressed into a circular space of around 10 metres as though spacetime itself is bending round the centre circle.
Al Ahly trick us all (me), going short and working the ball down the left where it's crossed in. Fluminense clear but that was nicely done by the African outfit.
Felipe Melo brings down El Shahat close to halfway and the Africans will take their time before launching the ball into the box.
Germán Cano gets immediately in behind thanks to an Arias pass but the referee calls the forward offside.
And we're off!
It is indeed the African side who kick us off!
My eagle eyes spy that the African side have won the coin toss and will kick us off.
Here come the teams!
The 22 players walk out onto the pitch for the first of two semi-finals in the Club World Cup!
Here's a snap of the light show:
This is how things look as we wait on the players!
In case you're wondering...
There's the obligatory FIFA light show taking place just before we get going.
The players are in the tunnel!
Marcelo is smiling like a cheshire cat as his team make their way into the stadium tunnel ahead of kick-off.
Felipe Melo pre-game:
On how tough the game vs Al Ahly will be:
Very, very difficult. When I came here with Palmeiras, Al Ahly beat us in the third-place play-off. It was during the pandemic. We didn’t have much time to rest, get used to the time difference, but they’re a really strong team, really well coached. We’re preparing as much as possible for them and we’ll all have to be on our game to get through.
On Manchester City:
The best team in Europe for the last five years, despite not winning the Champions League [for the first four of them]. They’re experiencing something they’re not used to – they’re had a few bad results in the English league and are seeing Liverpool top of the table. But we know City’s potential. They have a great coach and a mix of strength, speed and technical ability. They have a really strong player up front [Erling Haaland] who’s always on the move.
A message to the Flu fans:
Firstly, I want to thank the Fluminense supporters. We’re living this dream together, and we’ll continue living this dream together. We’ll continue dreaming, prophesising what will happen and [at the stadium] we’ll fulfil it – us on the pitch and you in the stands. Everything you believe in is possible.
The stadium is filling!
The more hopeful Al Ittihad fans who had bought a semi-final ticket have, as you might expect, put them on resale. That means that the stadium is not quite full to the brim... just yet!
The PA announcer is reading out the starting XIs for each team...
And Marcelo's name certainly got the loudest cheer of them all! And that's considering that Al Ahly fans are clearly outnumbering their rival supporters by about 20 to 1!
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2023
Club León - Urawa Reds summary: score, goals & highlights | FIFA Club World Cup 2023
A late goal saw Urawa Reds sneak past Club León in a tense affair in Saudi Arabia, setting up a Club World Cup date with Manchester City.
Here's how the other game in the second round went: it was a tight tie between the two sides and in the end, a single goal was enough from Urawa Reds to send their hopeful Liga MX opponents packing.
Both teams are on the pitch!
The pre-game warmups have just started and the goalkeepers are being put through their paces!
Half an hour to go!
If you've just joined us then welcome along!
Here are the starting XIs:
Fluminense:
GK: Fábio
DEF: Marcelo - Nino - Melo - Xavier
MID: André - Martinelli - Ganso
ATT: Keno - Cano - Arias
Al Ahly:
GK: El Shenawy
DEF: Hany - Ibrahim - Abdelmonem - Maaloul
MID: Ashour - Attia -. Tawfik
ATT: Tau - Kahraba - Al Shahat
Associated Press/LaPresse / APS
What happens if the game ends in a draw?
If we're still level after 90 minutes of play then we will move to 30 minutes of extra-time to decide a winner. If, after those 30 minutes, the scores are still level, the penalty shootout will be used to decide who makes it to the Club World Cup final.
Here's how the stadium looks ahead of kick-off
The photo was only taken a couple of minutes ago but I can assure you that things are getting a lot busier by the second!
Fluminense XI revealed:
Here is how the Brazilian side start the game.
Three minutes until Fluminense team news!
Flu have arrived
The Copa Libertadores champions have arrived at the King Abdullah Sport City ahead of kick-off!
Marcelo to FIFA:
On getting this far with Fluminense after just 10 months:
I thought it was possible. But the dream was a little far away. At first we had the Campeonato Carioca, and soon after we were going to begin our Libertadores campaign. It was still very early. We had the dream when I arrived – or even before I did – of winning the Libertadores and competing in the Club World Cup. But at the start, being honest, we did think about it but it was a faraway dream.
Winning CWC with Real Madrid:
It was wonderful. Every club World Cup I won with Real Madrid has a different taste. I had the opportunity to participate in four editions and win four. Now it’s a special taste because I’m participating in the Club World Cup with my boyhood team.
On winning his fifth CWC:
Look, out of respect for our opponents, I never say before whatever competition. We have what it takes to compete in the Club World Cup, to play, to fight for the title, but we know there are other teams who want to win the Club World Cup. I can’t tell you whether we’ll win or not because we haven’t begun our Club World Cup campaign, but we have all our strengths, a lot of belief.
Playing as left-back behind Bale at Real Madrid:
Every game is different because we play against teams we’re not used to playing during the season. It’s always a different game from what we’re used to. [You’re always up against] different players with different characteristics. The players are used to playing in their countries, in their competitions, and it’s always something different. In that game I was able to provide two assists for Gareth, and I was really happy.
OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP
Who's the ref?
Szymon Marciniak is the man with the whistle today. He's a regular on the European stage with Champions League experience.
The 42-year-old from Poland was named "The World's Best Referee" by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
We are going to be treated with the delightful Flu home shirt
One of the most iconic colourways in world football is about the grace the King Abdullah Sports City pitch tonight in Saudi Arabia as Flu are set to play in their stunning home kit.
Hussein Elshahat on Al Ahly's win over Al Ittihad:
We went into the match with respect for Al Ittihad’s capabilities, acknowledging them as a great club playing in front of their fans. They, too, showed respect for us, and that mutual respect was the key to success.
The coach Koller repeatedly emphasized to us, ‘You must respect them, they have great players, but you are also great players’.
This mindset created the difference. Also, our experience in this tournament – it’s our fourth participation in recent years – played a significant role in securing the victory.
AMR ABDALLAH DALSH / REUTERS
Al Ahly XI confirmed:
The African side have revealed their starting XI for the game.
The Flu fans know how to make a noise!
They make their voices heard wherever they go and today in Saudi Arabia is going to be no different!
Al Ahly are set to wear their third kit:
It's a lovely white kit with red accents. I do love a white kit.
Predicted lineups:
Here's how we think both sides will line up in today's clash:
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Guga, Nino, Melo, Marcelo; Andre, Martinelli; Arias, Ganso, Keno; Cano
Al Ahly possible starting lineup:
El Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, Abdelmonem, Maaloul; Kouka, Ateya, Ashour; Tau, Kahraba, El Shahat
Here is how the second round went!
We had a fantastic tactical battle in the first game with Urawa Reds getting the better of Club León thanks to a late goal from their substitute striker, Schalk.
The seocnd game was a more one-sided affair, with Al Ahly beating Benzema's Al Ittihad on home soil 3-1!
Welcome!
Here we are again with more live football action from Saudi Arabia as Fluminense take on Al Ahly in the Club World Cup semi-final!
It's Joe here to guide you through the action that should start in around 90 minutes.
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