Al Hilal 0-1 Chelsea: Lukaku sends the Londoners to the final of the Club World Cup

The Club World Cup is the only trophy missing from Roman Abramovich’s 2003 collection since taking charge at Chelsea (20 trophies in west London in 19 years) and on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. The blues will have the opportunity to conquer and offer it to him.

The European champions beat Asian champions Al Hilal 1-0 thanks to Romelu Lukaku’s golden goal in the 32nd minute, securing their ticket to the grand final of the tournament, where they will face Palmeiras and fight for the specific victory Trophy for the first time in their history.

The game

Chelsea came into play with the flair of the favourites, who had better quality and a much more experienced side, and were careful to show their spirit early on as Thiago Silva fired an ambitious long-range shot in the 8th minute and Ziggs lost his first big chance in the second semi-final in 10 ‘, sent the ball just over the bar with a powerful shot from the height of the large area.

The Blues quickly gained control with possession (reaching 65% in the first 25 minutes) and after 1-2 more threats in the 32nd minute they found the goal they were looking for and justified by their picture. Al-Sarani turned away from Haverts on the left and instead of removing it, sent the ball towards Lukaku and the Belgian striker shot through the small area, writing the 1-0 for the Londoners.

This was his 9th goal in all competitions and first after six consecutive games in which he failed to find the nets, with the Londoners unthreatened even after the goal was scored and with 9 finals (3 at home) to the dressing room at break went ) against only 4 (1 on target) Asian champions.

In the second half, Chelsea scored in the 48th minute with Haverts square, who sent the ball to the right bar, and Ziggs’ lightning shot in the 60th minute, which forced Muayouf to a very difficult operation, but the second Goal dynamic reaction of Leonardo Zardim’s team, which closed the Londoners in their frame for ten minutes and lost two very big opportunities for a draw.

The protagonist in these stages was Kepa, who ‘lowered the roles’, with the Blues’ back-up goalkeeper (he was given a plain jersey having Medi just returned from the Copa Africa he won with Senegal) at 63′ in Igalos’ only four stopped -on-four and with one hand in a corner impressively impressing Kano’s wonderful fake shot in 68′.

These phases set the game ablaze, with both teams picking up the pace, both menacingly looking for the goal after 70 minutes. But after a crazy ten minutes (until 80′), in which the two goalkeepers were constantly in a fighting position, the pace of his players slowed down Zolt Lev (Tuhel did not travel to Abu Dhabi with coronavirus and his assistant was on the bench) to control the game and celebrate a significant victory in the final.

Al Hilal: Muayyuf, Alburaik, Yang, Bulahi, Sahrani, Cuyar, Kano, Al Dausari (81′ Carigio), Pereira (82′ Mikael), Marega, Igalo

CHELSEA: Kepa, Readinger, Silva, Christensen, Athpilicueta, Kovacic, Zorginio (46′ Cante), Alonso (87′ Sar), Haverts, Ziggs (72′ Mount), Lukaku