Flamengo match-winner Bruno Henrique termed FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 final as “an excellent WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019 opportunity” LIVERPOOL VS MONTERREY AT 8.30PM TONIGHT Flamengo fly their way into the final DPA DOHA BRUNO Henrique scored and set up the two other goals as Flamengo came from behind to beat 10-man Al Hilal 3-1 and reach the final of the FIFA Liverpool FC coach Jurgen Klopp (right) and midfielder James Milner during the press conference on the Club World Cup Qatar 2019 at eve of their 2019 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final match against Monterrey in Doha on Tuesday.(AFP) the Khalifa International Sta- dium on Tuesday. The Asian champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia drew first Reds return, Rayados blood from Salem Al Dawsari in the 18th after he had a shot three minutes earlier saved by goalkeeper Diego Alves. hope it is their time Copa Libertadores winners from Rio de Janeiro raised their game after the break and were level in the 49th, Gior- Liverpool enter the gian De Arrascaeta tapping in arena with eyes after Henrique’s low cross in a fast move. trained on glory; Henrique then headed Fla- mengo ahead off Rafinha at Flamengo players celebrate their FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 semi-final win over Saudi’s Al Hilal at Mexican side out to Khalifa Stadium in the 78th, the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. (AFP) and four minutes later his finally earn their sharp cross from the left was shot at the title deflected into the net by Al Hi- Scoreline lal’s Ali Al Bulaihi. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Al Hilal’s fate was sealed for Flamengo 3 (Giorgian DOHA good a minute later when An- De Arrascaeta 49’, Bruno dre Carrillo received a straight Henrique 78’, Ali al WHEN it comes to both Mon- While the odds are against Monterrey, the underdogs will be hoping to red for a foul on Arrascaeta. Bulayhi 82’ (OG)) terrey (known as Rayados) and reach their debut finale in spectacular style. I knew that Al Hilal will not bt Al Hilal 1 Liverpool, their semi-final has a have the physical ability to sus- (Salem al Dawsari 18’) little more depth than just the KLOPP PRAISE FOR KHALIFA STADIUM PITCH tain until the end of the match,” game itself in terms of FIFA coach Jorge Jesus said. Club World Cup baggage. DOHA: Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp on Thursday praised “We dominated the second Thus it will be an interest- the football pitches in Doha, and said that Liverpool prepared half. The red card helped us to ing semi-final battle of FIFA well for their match against CF Monterrey. further control the game. All of Club World Cup Qatar 2019 HE said that his team is full of respect for Monterrey and look these factors gave us the upper at the Khalifa International forward to the game. He said that the Mexican team has brilliant hand. We were better physi- Stadium on Wednesday even footballers who are full of creativity. He added that the South cally than Al Hilal. Flamingo forward Gabriel Barbosa greets the crowd after his team’s as Liverpool remain as the hot American influence was quite clear, as the team plays with a lot Looking at the final Sat- victory at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. (AFP) favourites. of emotions. “They are in a pretty good moment. They have a urday against either Euro- It’s been a long old wait for specific way of playing, good players, technically good players. pean champions Liverpool Playmaker Diego, who as very good football for a long one of English football’s most It’s just interesting,” he added. or Mexico’s Monterrey, he a sub was involved in their period in the game. decorated sides to get back On Khalifa International stadium, he said that he spoke with the added: “It’s going to be one of second and third goal, said: “The key of the game was within reach of earning the ti- team’s groundsman who described the pitch as “in very good the most important matches “For us it is history. We are this period in which we didn’t tle of world champions. It’s 14 condition”. “The training ground yesterday was brilliant, absolute- in my career. I never won the ready to make a good game score one or two goals. Fla- years since they stepped out at ly brilliant. My concern was from England; I have never been here Club World Cup. Winning this on Saturday. It will be a mengo created three situa- the tournament and fell at the in this country, especially never played football here, but obvious- trophy is a great honour for tough game but we will pre- tions and scored, we created hands of Sao Paulo in Japan, so ly the pitches are brilliant and should not be a proper concern,” me. Flamengo deserves to be pare ourselves to reach our more and didn’t score.” making the same mistake twice said before adding that “our groundsman said it is unbelievable, in the final.” Bruno Henrique target.” The Brazilians will play the and going home empty-handed built on sand, which is good in this case, so it will suck all the spoke of “an excellent oppor- Al Hilal coach Razvan Lu- winner of Wednesday’s sec- isn’t remotely on the radar. water off. The pitch will hopefully be no concern.” (QNA) tunity” as Flamengo seek their cescu said: “The quality of the ond semi-final in Doha, when Meanwhile, Monterrey have first title at the tournament in players made the difference ... Liverpool face Mexican club had three tilts at the title since its current format. We lost today, but we played Monterrey. Steven Gerrard and Co. missed Rogelio Funes, it could be sance under Klopp over the out, but a solitary bronze is about settling a family feud. last couple of seasons. The in- their most memorable souvenir. His twin brother Ramiro dustrious Englishman is cru- While the odds are against them, was sent off for Liverpool’s lo- cial to the high-intensity play the underdogs will be hoping to cal rivals Everton in the Mer- his German coach demands reach their debut finale in spec- seyside derby back in 2016. No and, in the absence of defen- tacular style. doubt the Argentinians’ fam- sive screen Fabinho, will pro- For the numerous fans, ily would be love to see Roge- vide the firm foundation for who have arrived in Doha all lio add to the goal he scored those around him to flourish. the way from England, and against Al Sadd in Monterrey’s Faced with a power house Mexico, it will be a contest of opener on Saturday. opposition, Monterrey will thrill and excitement. Despite the many attrac- look to Jesus Gallardo. His And as Liverpool’s star for- tions, there will of course be adeptness as a full-back will Al Hilal goalkeeper Abdullah al ward Xherdan Shaqiri, having one of the most loved Egyptian be certainly called upon with Mayouf fails to stop a Flamengo triumphed back in 2013, put in this part of the world – Mo- the twin threats of Salah and goal at the Khalifa International it, “It’s special because you hamed Salah. In solid scoring Trent Alexander-Arnold to Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. play against totally different form, having excelled at the contend with. (AFP) nations’ clubs, so it’s an amaz- English Premier League re- If Liverpool win against ing experience. You cannot al- cently, Salah will look wow his the Mexicans, they will ad- ways have this experience, it’s fans with mercurial play. vance to a final on Saturday a long way to get there so we Then, there is Liverpool against Flamengo. have to enjoy that too. I won captain Jordan Henderson in “We are here to represent it already with Bayern, it was the midfield. While the stand- Europe, to represent Liver- amazing, and it’s also impor- out stars are obvious, and Liv- pool first and foremost, that’s tant for the club: a big trophy, erpool’s full-backs are rightly what we do. We are invited, an important trophy.” garnering worldwide plaudits, we qualified, and we go there,” For Monterrey’s striker Henderson has had a renais- said coach Klopp. Esperance Sportive de Tunis slam in six goals to end on a high in a 6-2 record-equalling goal- ahead by six minutes. Great feet two penalties of their own – Elhouni scores fest with Al Sadd. from Elhouni crafted enough Baghdad Bounedjah getting this Hamdou Elhouni’s hat- space to pick out the far cor- third goal of the tournament, a hat-trick as trick heroics, alongside Anice ner. Things escalated further with Hassan Al Haydos adding Badri’s brace, saw the African after 13 minutes, with Tarek another early in the second half. ES Tunis equal champions equal their tour- Salman’s calamitous backpass However, Elhouni’s near- best-ever finish nament-best placing of fifth, leading to Badri tapping into an post strike just before the break which they achieved last year. open net. Midway through the had left a comeback unlikely, FIFA.COM It also earned them revenge opening period Hassan couldn’t before he completed a memo- DOHA for their first ever Club World duplicate his early heroics; he rable night, tapping in at the far Cup loss, having fallen to the Esperance forward Hamdou blocked Badri’s goal-bound ef- post to complete his treble.