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In a Club World Cup, the European champion has never fallen to the Asian champion, and on this warm evening in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, it never seemed possible.
Manchester City is one game away from winning a fifth title in 2023 after putting aside difficulties at home to easily defeat Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in the Club World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.
In a Club World Cup, the European champion has never fallen to the Asian champion, and on this warm evening in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, it never seemed possible.
After defender Marius Hoibraten’s own goal took Man City until stoppage time in the first half, Mateo Kovačić and Bernardo Silva scored goals with shots within a seven-minute period early in the second half against the Japanese squad.
Man City will now be the favourite to defeat Brazil’s Fluminense in the championship game on Friday.
“That’s the only title the club is missing,” stated Pep Guardiola, manager of City. “The players are aware of the significance of this match for the entire club.”
During an unusual run in the Premier League, where the reigning champion has won just one of its last six games while conceding late goals, Guardiola’s club continues to find solace in international matches.
This month, City completed a flawless six-game winning streak in their Champions League group, capping the season with a triumphant Club World Cup debut.
To its legendary trophy treble of winning the English FA Cup, Champions League, and Premier League in the previous season, City also added a UEFA Super Cup championship in August.
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Hoibraten deflected a pass across the goalmouth by Matheus Nunes that was unlikely to find another of the six midfield players in the starting lineup, giving City the early lead on Friday.
Argentina attacker Julián Álvarez was benched by Guardiola as well, as Erling Haaland remains sidelined due to a foot ailment.
The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium’s high-pitched screens at either end showed the faces of City players Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, who were seated in the main stand.
This caused the largest applause of the dreary first half. In the championship game, neither will participate.
Despite participating in a brief training session on Monday, over four months after undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury he suffered early in City’s Premier League season opening, De Bruyne was not put at risk.
On the other hand, some 400 Urawa supporters seated behind a single goal contributed to the noise produced by the 40,127 spectators in the far from full stadium.
The group continued to cheer, sing, and jump in time to the unrelenting drumming by one of their members even after the goals were scored either side of halftime.
The 52nd minute saw deep-lying midfielder Kovačić take advantage of the space left empty where Haaland would have been to charge forward and attempt a shot after receiving a long pass from Kyle Walker.
Seven minutes later, goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa had denied Nunes’ initial attempt, but Bernardo Silva had scored with a little deflection. It was shooting practice for the City.
With City dominating the final 30 minutes, Guardiola presented his team’s strategy in Jeddah, where they will play two games every week this season.
“Our strategy is to sleep, sleep, and sleep,” the coach declared, complimenting Walker for being a “fantastic captain” who plans team outings.
A considerably greater divide was revealed in a game that finished this month between the fourth-place squad in England and the fourth-place team in the Japanese league.
Maciej Skorża, the coach of Urawa, admitted that his team was unable to withstand the Premier League champion’s “huge offensive power.” They are aware of the disparity.”
The 13th match between Europe and South America in 19 editions will determine the final Club World Cup title in the current format, which started in 2005, on Friday.
When FIFA relaunches the competition in June 2025 in the United States, with 12 entries from Europe and just 4 from Asia, Urawa will also be included in the 32-team field.
Skorża, who is set to depart Urawa at the end of the season, expressed his belief that the experience will be crucial for their team.
