FOOTBALL | Page 2 NBANBA| Page 5 Man United Giannis implode gets third against triple-double; Watford Bucks win big Monday, December 23, 2019 Rabia II 26, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT SPOTLIGHT Winning Club World Cup is ‘absolutely sensational’, says Liverpool boss Klopp The victory completes a fabulous year for Liverpool, after winning the Champions League and UEFA Supercup AFP as them,” said their Portuguese coach Doha Jorge Jesus, who took over in June be- fore leading them to the Brazilian title and the Copa Libertadores. urgen Klopp described winning “Flamengo have had an unforget- the Club World Cup as “abso- table season. We have shown that the lutely sensational” after Roberto best Brazilian team can compete on Firmino’s extra-time goal al- the same level as the best teams in Eu- Jlowed Liverpool to beat Flamengo 1-0 rope.” in the fi nal in Doha on Saturday and lift Klopp welcomed back Virgil van the trophy for the fi rst time. Dijk after the Dutchman sat out Firmino was picked out by Sadio Wednesday’s semi-fi nal due to ill- Mane and waited for goalkeeper Diego ness, while Firmino, Mane and Trent Alves to commit before slotting low Alexander-Arnold were recalled after into the net in the 99th minute of an starting on the bench against Monter- absorbing contest at the Khalifa Inter- rey. national Stadium. Firmino, Naby Keita and Alexan- It was the moment that fi nally punc- der-Arnold all came close for Liver- tured the hopes of the Brazilian side pool in the fi rst six minutes, but Fla- and their vibrant support, after Liver- mengo gradually settled into the game pool had been denied a penalty by VAR and matched the European champions right at the end of normal time. for much of the fi rst half. The Qatari referee initially gave a However, they were lucky not to fall spot-kick for a foul on Mane by Rafi nha behind at the beginning of the second on the way into the box, but changed period when Firmino controlled Hend- his mind following a lengthy review, erson’s ball forward and sent a shot off forcing the contest into an extra 30 the inside of the post. minutes. Liverpool also needed goalkeeper Still the European champions had Alisson to produce a fi ne stop from a enough to come out on top, with Firmi- Gabriel Barbosa strike, before Alex Ox- no repeating his semi-fi nal heroics, lade-Chamberlain went off injured as when he scored an injury-time winner extra time began to loom. against Monterrey of Mexico. Then Alves stretched to tip a net- “I couldn’t be more happy for him bound Henderson shot from 25 yards that he could score that goal because Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp arrives at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool after winning the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar over the bar and, with the match in in- before the game we spoke a lot about 2019 in Doha on Saturday. At right Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson holds the trophy as he alights from the plane. jury time, the English side thought they what this competition means to South had a penalty. American people and especially Bra- ons League and UEFA Supercup. know how it would feel, but now I can better team tonight.” However, referee Abdulrahman Al zilian people,” Klopp said. Having earned the title of world say it’s outstanding, absolutely sensa- Flamengo had been hoping to re- They fell short, although they cer- Jassim dramatically cancelled his de- “It means the world to him, it champions, if Klopp’s team see out tional and I’m so proud of the boys,” peat their win over Liverpool in the tainly gave the Premier League leaders cision after reviewing the footage on a helped us and on top of that it was a their huge lead at the top of the Pre- Klopp said after winning a competi- old Intercontinental Cup in 1981 and a game in what was their last outing of pitchside monitor. sensational goal.” mier League, they will have a case to tion that has not always been held in thereby become the fi rst non-Euro- a long season. Liverpool fi nally found a way through The victory completes a fabulous be remembered as the fi nest side in high regard in Europe. pean winners of the Club World Cup “We lost, but only in terms of the nine minutes into the fi rst half of extra year for Liverpool, with a third piece the illustrious history of the club. “Flamengo are a really, really good since fellow Brazilians Corinthians result. Otherwise we were not los- time though thanks to Firmino, and of silverware to go with the Champi- “I said before the game that I didn’t football team but I think we were the beat Chelsea in 2012. ers in any respect. We were as good Flamengo could not respond. BOTTOMLINE Liverpool players bask in glory of Doha success iverpool’s players basked in And amid the post-match jubi- and a proud moment for all those the history-making feeling lation in Doha, Trent Alexander- involved. Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino after securing a fi rst ever Arnold was already relishing the Alexander-Arnold added: “It’s and Alisson pose with their FIFA Club World Cup title in prospect of another update inside the best of the best this tournament, medals and the trophy as they LQatar on Saturday night. reception at the training ground. so we knew what we were coming in celebrate after winning the A tense, hard-fought fi nal against “The Champions Wall is massive to. “We won it late in both games Club World Cup on Saturday. Copa Libertadores winners, and at Melwood, so we’re excited to go and it just shows the quality that Brazilian champions, Flamengo back and hopefully see it,” said the we’ve been up against. It was excit- went to extra-time at Khalifa In- full-back. ing for us to be part of this tourna- ternational Stadium and was even- “I think this may be the only tro- ment and we’ll be really proud to go tually settled by Roberto Firmino’s phy the club hasn’t won, so to be back with this trophy.” 99th-minute strike. able to do it is huge for us, putting Fellow full-back Andy Robertson The victory represented a new ourselves in the history books and echoed those sentiments, opening addition to the Reds’ honours col- making sure we’re remembered as up in his post-match assessment on lection – their 47th major trophy a really good Liverpool team. It’s why the squad was especially moti- – and means they will possess the an exciting time to be a Liverpool vated to secure the silverware. FIFA Champions Badge for the next player.” “We were so determined to win year. Just as they did in the last-minute this,” said Robertson. “To be world champions is in- semi-fi nal victory over CON- “A week before Christmas, com- credible,” Firmino, who is the fi rst CACAF Champions League winners ing away from your families and man to score in a Club World Cup Monterrey three days earlier, the it’s a tough time of year being away fi nal for Liverpool, told FIFA.com. Reds dug deep to defeat Flamengo. from them for that long, but it has “It’s a unique feeling. Wearing the Firmino hit the post early in the all been worth it. badge of world champions for the second half and then a VAR review “Now we go back as champions next year will be amazing.” overturned a decision to award Liv- and put this trophy in a cabinet it A third alteration to the Champi- erpool a penalty in the closing mo- has never been in before. We’ve ons Wall at Melwood in 2019 will now ments of normal time. written history in Liverpool’s long be required, following on from June’s But a rapid counter-attack saw history and it’s a fantastic feeling, Champions League glory and the Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane nobody can take that away from UEFA Super Cup success in August. set up Firmino for an historic goal us.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, December 23, 2019 FOOTBALL LOOKING AHEAD ITALIAN SUPER CUP Flamengo eager to build on promising run Lazio edge Juve Reuters The next few weeks will be key to Europe and try to prove him- Sao Paulo, Brazil in deciding whether this year self after disappointing spells at was a one-off or the beginning Inter and Benfi ca. 3-1 in Riyadh of a tropical dynasty. The encouraging news for Fla- day after narrowly los- “All the conditions are there mengo is they have the resources DPA Paulo Dybala tapped in Juve’s ing the Club World for Flamengo to continue their to ensure they remain dominant. Rome, Italy equalizer after a Ronaldo at- Cup fi nal to Liverpool, hegemony in Brazilian foot- Flamengo get more money tempt on 45. Flamengo are hoping ball,” Jesus said after Saturday’s from TV rights and their own Lazio captain Senad Lulic vol- Ato keep hold of cult fi gures Jorge defeat. “They are on the right members’ schemes than any azio lifted the Italian leyed in at King Saud University Jesus and Gabriel Barbosa so track, but it is not up to me, it’s other Brazilian club and are sec- Super Cup with a 3-1 Stadium on 73 and substitute that they can build on their most up to the directors to know what ond only behind Palmeiras in defeat of Cristiano Ro- Danilo Cataldi drilled in a stop- successful season in almost 40 steps they are going to take.