Firmino strikes late to take Liverpool into Club World Cup final
Posted by News Express | 19 December 2019 | 1,196 times
Roberto Firmino came off
the bench to score a stoppage-time winner as a below-par Liverpool edged out
Mexican side Monterrey 2-1 at the Club World Cup in Doha on Wednesday and set
up a final against Flamengo.
The game had started
very well for Jurgen Klopp’s team, with Naby Keita firing them into an early
lead, to the delight of almost everyone in the crowd at the Khalifa
International Stadium.
However, Monterrey
quickly drew level through Argentine striker Rogelio Funes Mori and the most
recent winners of the CONCACAF Champions League matched the Reds for long
spells.
But then, just as the
game moved into the first of three added minutes, and with extra time looming,
Firmino popped up to turn a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross into the net from
close range and take the Anfield side through.
Having taken time out
from their seemingly relentless march towards the Premier League title to come
to Qatar, Liverpool will be relieved at coming through this test, and they
remain on course to win this competition for the first time in their history.
The victory came despite
Klopp being without centre-back Virgil van Dijk due to illness, the Dutchman
having previously played in every game this season apart from in the League
Cup.
Sadio Mane started on
the bench along with Firmino and Alexander-Arnold, with Klopp handing starts to
the likes of Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi.
Any suggestions
Liverpool were not taking this match completely seriously were nevertheless
dismissed as they got off to a flying start and were rewarded with the opening
goal in the 12th minute.
Mohamed Salah left the
crowd gasping as he produced a stunning pass to release Keita, the midfielder
running into the box and lashing a first-time shot past goalkeeper Marcelo
Barovero and into the net.
However, Monterrey’s
response was swift, as they drew level within two minutes of that.
Jesus Gallardo’s shot
was saved low down by Alisson, but Funes Mori — the brother of former Everton
defender Ramiro — was on hand to convert the rebound.
The game plan pays off
The Mexicans grew in
confidence after that, with captain Dorlan Pabon, the Colombian international
forward, producing one goalbound piledriver that forced a fine save out of
Alisson.
The Liverpool goalkeeper
also got a vital touch to a Pabon cross with Funes Mori ready to pounce at the
near post.
Salah, meanwhile, was
being very tightly marked, although Keita came close to a second goal with
Barovero diving at his feet following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s through ball.
Alisson again denied Pabon
early in the second half as he came up with another fine stop from a free-kick,
and he was also needed to turn a curling Funes Mori shot around the post midway
through the second half.
It was then that Klopp
sent on Mane in place of Shaqiri, and soon afterward it was Alexander-Arnold
who entered the fray in place of James Milner. Firmino then came on for Origi
five minutes from the end of normal time.
Clearly determined to
avoid a draining extra half hour, Klopp’s game plan paid off as Firmino pounced
in the 91st minute.
Monterrey will not
become the first Mexican club to reach the final of this event, and Liverpool
will now be favourites to finish a fabulous year with another trophy. (AFP)
Source: News Express
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