One goal from Roberto Firmino in extra time was enough for Liverpool to win the Club World Cup against Flamengo. It was an enthralling match that had pretty much everything but the Reds were victorious.
Liverpool started this game brilliantly, showing more energy than in the entire Monterrey game. Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita shot over when well placed and Trent Alexander-Arnold had a long range effort that whistled past the post. That would be about all Liverpool would do in the first half as Flamengo asserted their authority on the match.
Bruno Henrique was causing all sorts of problems down the right but Flamengo failed to create any clear cut chances. The Brazilians dominated the tempo and when Liverpool did get into attacking areas, their final pass let them down. Mo Salah had almost six teammates to pass to when on the counter attack but picked out the only Flamengo defender.
The second half started exactly the same as the first with Firmino missing a great chance. His shot hit the inside of the post and somehow managed to not go into the net. Salah then put an effort just wide and again, Flamengo rallied. Gabriel Barbosa had three consecutive chances missed, including an acrobatic effort well saved by Alisson.
As time went on, Liverpool began to control the game so Flamengo had to resort to time wasting to thwart the European champions' dominance. Liverpool did not want extra time, already in the middle of a busy schedule, so threw everything at Flamengo to score the winner.
Salah did score but he was offside and had another chance go wide. Jordan Henderson produced a wonderful save from Diego Alves, who could barely walk two minutes beforehand, but Liverpool thought their prayers had been answered when Sadio Mane was released and tripped by Rafinha.
Even in a different continent, VAR would still find a way to prevent a Liverpool goal. It took an age for VAR to decide that the referee - who was awful - should use the stupid pitch side monitor. Mane was just outside the box but was fouled by Rafinha, so a free kick should've been awarded and a red card to the Brazilian. Instead, the ref adjudged there to be no foul (strange) so Liverpool got no free kick and Rafinha wasn't sent off.
Extra time was required but it wouldn't take long for the deadlock to be broken. Liverpool had been the most likely towards the end of the ninety and did score. Henderson found Mane with a great pass and he squared to Firmino who went passed the 'keeper and tapped home. The Brazilian against the Brazilian side, it was nothing more than Liverpool deserved.
Salah and Alexander-Arnold forced Alves into saves to get a second and kill the contest and they almost suffered from their missed chances as Lincoln, with little time remaining, smashed a shot over the bar when it seemed easier to score. Liverpool held on and are now world champions for the first time.
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