Man City keep title hopes alive with comeback 3-1 win over Leicester PAGE 14 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2019 Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah receives the Golden Ball award and Flamengo’s forward Bruno Henrique gets the Silver Ball award following the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final football match in Doha on Saturday. ROLL OF HONOUR Recent Club World Cup winners after Liverpool beat Flamengo 1-0 after extra time in Saturday’s final in Doha: 2019: Liverpool (ENG) 2018: Real Madrid (ESP) 2017: Real Madrid (ESP) 2016: Real Madrid (ESP) 2015: Barcelona (ESP) 2014: Real Madrid (ESP) 2013: Bayern Munich (GER) 2012: Corinthians (BRA) 2011: Barcelona (ESP) Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino 2010: Inter Milan (ITA) Liverpool’s players lift the trophy following the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final football match against Brazil’s Flamengo at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Saturday. celebrates after scoring the goal. LIVerPOOL TAKE HOme FIFA CLUB WOrlD CUP there was no contact on the Firmino’s extra-time golden edge of the area. Both sides looked jaded at times with extra time not do- strike seals fate of Flamengo ing either side any favours. But Liverpool finally scored DPA Henderson said. on 99 minutes after a quick DOHA “We have found a way for breakaway, Firmino keeping a long time now. Some late his cool to slot home and dev- LIVERPOOL won their first goals, we just want to keep astate his countrymen. Club World Cup title after going, keep improving. Keep Flamengo’s Lincoln blazed Roberto Firmino scored in ex- working hard and putting in over with a great chance to tra-time to seal a 1-0 win over performances like that.” The level late on. Flamengo at the Khalifa Inter- Brazilians edged the first half Liverpool had never previ- national Stadium in Doha on with more possession and ously won the Club World Cup Saturday. more chances although Liv- or its forerunner the Intercon- The European champi- erpool arguably had the best tinental Cup. They even lost ons prevailed over the South opportunity in the very first to Rio-based Flamengo in the American titleholders to minute but Firmino fired over. Flamengo’s players pose for a group picture after the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final football match against England’s Liverpool at the Khalifa final in 1981. crown a magical year for the Liverpool’s Brazilian later International Stadium in Doha on Saturday. In the third-place match, Reds, who won their sixth rattled the post early in the Monterrey’s goalkeeper continental title in June and second half as Juergen Klopp’s The one time the former ed over at the other end. frustration and was visibly up- dogged Flamengo defence. scored the winning spotkick sit 10 points clear at the top of side began to dominate. did get round the back, Mo- Liverpool midfielder Alex set. He was replaced by Adam There was drama in stop- as the Mexicans prevailed on the English Premier League. Flamengo manager Jorge hamed Salah could not finish Oxlade-Chamberlain, out for Lallana. page time in normal time penalties after a 2-2 draw with “We could have scored a Jesus got his tactics spot on off his cross on 49 minutes. over a year after a knee injury Salah soon had a goal ruled when the referee initially gave Asian champions Al-Hilal. couple more. Overall delight- and Liverpool’s rampaging Gabriel Barbosa then in 2018, suffered what looked out for offside and Henderson a penalty for a foul by Rafinha Luis Cardenas denied Ed- ed with the result and perfor- full backs Trent Alexander- forced Liverpool’s Brazil- like a knee or ankle problem went close with a rasping shot on Liverpool’s Sadio Mane. uardo and Mohamed Kanno mance in difficult conditions,” Arnold and Andy Robertson ian goalkeeper Alisson into a midway through the second as the English side became in- But the video assistant in- in the shoot-out before sealing Liverpool captain Jordan struggled to overlap. smart save before Salah blast- half. He beat the ground in creasingly frustrated against a tervened and it was decided victory with his own penalty. GLIMPSES OF FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2019 FINAL Infantino lauds Qatar’s organisation of FIFA Club World Cup 2019 QNA & AGENCIES in the position to deliver every “I want the Club World Cup DOHA single infrastructure work two to be the best in terms of quality years prior to the event, which is on the pitch but also in terms of FIFA President Gianni Infanti- what Qatar is on track to doing.” revenues,” Infantino said, add- no has praised the organisation He added: “I am sure that ing: “Whatever FIFA is doing of the FIFA Club World Cup it will be a fantastic event and I has to be the best, that’s clear.” 2019 by Qatar. believe that a World Cup in Qa- While the existing Club Speaking to reporters, In- tar, in the Middle East, will have World Cup features only the six fantino said: “I am very happy the ability to change the percep- continental champions as well with what I have seen during DELIGHTED tion of the rest of the world to- as the champions of the host Flamengo’s team coach Paulo the Club World Cup so far and wards the region.” nation, the new event will see Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp Cesar Carpegiani with the preparations for FIFA “I am very happy with Infantino expressed his many of the biggest sides in the World Cup 2022.” what I have seen during intention to make the new ver- world -- including eight from He added that the Club the Club World Cup so far sion of the FIFA Club World Europe -- descend on China for World Cup is an important test and with the preparations Cup the best competition in the first edition. ahead of the World Cup, adding the world, pointing out that he The FIFA chief previously that the progress of the works in for FIFA World Cup 2022.” wants an outstanding tourna- claimed that the expanded com- Qatar is unparalleled. FIFA President Infantino ment in terms of performance petition could generate as much He continued by saying: on the field and also in terms of as $50 billion in revenue. “The Club World Cup is an im- revenue. He believes the added portant test for a few of the el- ing big football tournaments It will return here next year, depth, combined with the fact ements that will be place at the for 20 years and I must say that before a new, 24-team tourna- the competition will now be World Cup, but the truth is that the state of advancement of the ment begins in June and July played at the end of the Euro- the level of readiness is there for works in Qatar is unparalleled - 2021, with China having already pean club season, makes it an all to see. I have been organis- I have never seen a host country been awarded hosting rights. irresistible prospect for bidders. 14 Sunday, December 22, 2019 Sports Klopp honoured in Doha Custodian Cardenas stars as Monterrey finish third FIFA.COM DOHA GOALKEEPER Luis Cardenas was the hero for Monterrey as he saved two and then scored the winning shootout spot- kick to clinch bronze for Mon- terrey at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019, following a 2-2 draw against Al Hilal. Carlos Eduardo and Bafetimbi Gomis scored ei- ther side of a quick-fire dou- ble from Monterrey, with the 4-3 win on penalties seeing the Mexicans equal their best- ever performance at the Club World Cup. A stagnant affair in the opening stages, Al Hilal Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp was honoured with the ‘German kicked things into gear on 35 Football Ambassador 2019’ award at the FIFA Club World Cup in minutes when captain Eduar- Doha on Saturday. Roland Bischof, who launched the award, met do powered home their first the coach and presented him the award at St Regis Hotel. Klopp attempt on goal from Yasser commented later: “Thank you for the award. I will continue to try to represent Germany in the best possible way”. RESULT Monterrey’s goalkeeper Luis Cardenas saves a penalty during the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup third place playoff football match against Saudi’s Third-place play-off Al Hilal Club at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Saturday. (AFP) Al Hilal 2 (Carlos Eduardo 35, Gomis 66) Monterrey 2 (Gonzalez 55, Meza 60) The Asian Champions Everton sign up Ancelotti Monterrey win 4-3 on penalties League MVP almost snatched bronze in normal time, seeing AFP trophy-laden CV from spells at his swept shot deflected onto LONDON a clutch of Europe’s top clubs, Alshahrani’s measured cross. the post. The game went to including Juventus, AC Milan, Monterrey shook things penalties and saw Cardenas EVERTON appointed Carlo Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, up after the break though, step up for Monterrey’s fifth Ancelotti as the Toffees’ new Real Madrid and Bayern Mu- having rediscovered some and final penalty, sealing a 4-3 manager on a four-and-a-half nich. of their drive. First, an awk- triumph on spot-kicks. year deal on Saturday in a ma- Ancelotti has won league ti- ward cross and some head The match went straight jor coup for a club mired in tles in four different countries. tennis saw Arturo Gonzalez to penalties, where Monter- the bottom half of the Premier However, his immediate head into an open goal past a rey prevailed after goalkeeper League table.