Manchester City players celebrate a goal to Julian Alvarez. Photo: photosport
Julian Alvarez scored the fastest ever goal in a Club World Cup final as Manchester City thrashed Brazilian side Fluminense 4-0 on Saturday to cap a remarkable year by capturing their fifth trophy of 2023.
Pep Guardiola's team, who were missing injured striker Erling Haaland at the global tournament, had already captured the FA Cup, Premier League, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup this year.
"It was an unbelievable match," City's Phil Foden told FIFA.com.
"The lads showed not only quality, showed heart and determination. I'm delighted with the outcome.
"This is so important for the club," he added. "I'm delighted. It is massive for the club."
Alvarez had the travelling City fans cheering 40 seconds after kick off. Keeper Fabio did well to push Nathan Ake's long shot off the post but Alvarez was quick to the rebound, stooping to his hands and knees to chest it home.
Nino scored an own goal in the 27th minute, deflecting a shot from Phil Foden sideways into the net.
Foden put the game away in the 72nd minute when he slid to poke in a hard cross across the box from Alvarez.
Alvarez completed his brace in the 88th with a strike from just inside the box, prompting delighted City fans to break into "Blue Moon."
The victory made Guardiola the first manager to guide three different clubs to Club World Cup titles, winning with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, then Bayern Munich in 2013.
Guardiola stressed to his players this week about the importance of "closing the circle" on the team's trophies, and achieving a "once-in-a-lifetime" goal.
Message received. City never allowed Fluminense, who play the quintessential Brazilian short-passing possession style, to find their stride.
"Fair play to them, I love the way they play with short passes, they didn't make it easy for us," Foden said.
The Brazilians' best chance would have been a penalty that referee Szymon Marciniak initially awarded after Ederson brought down Paulo Henrique Ganso. But technology showed he was offside.
City keeper Ederson had little to do, but made a terrific save just before halftime when Jhon Arias met a corner with a thunderous header that Ederson dove across the net to push away.
"We faced a City which have been the best team in the world for the last five years and they know how to make the most of the opportunities they create," Fluminense manager Fernando Diniz told Brazilian TV Globo.
"They are always spot on, scored really early and they punished us for the mistakes we made. We have to be proud for our incredible year and to have paved the road that led us here. It was an amazing ride and there is nothing to be ashamed of."
The one cloud on City's evening was an apparent knee injury to Rodri, who crumpled to the pitch when Alexsander caught him by the ankle. Rodri immediately grabbed the back of his knee. After receiving treatment, he briefly returned to the game before going down again and left the pitch in agony.
Rodri was presented with the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, and was able to walk across the presentation stage to receive his trophy. City captain Kyle Walker claimed the silver ball.
The 2025 tournament will feature an expanded 32-team format in the United States.
- Reuters