Vinicius found something to smile about when his goal helped Real Madrid into the final of the World Club Cup.
It was the Brazilian winger who scored the goal that won the Champions League final against Liverpool last year that qualified Real Madrid for this competition, and it was Vinicius who did the most to send them into Saturday’s final scoring the first in this 4-1 win.
The 22-year-old winger looked relaxed in Morocco in the semi-final, far from the noise of another case of racist abuse against him in La Liga. And in the absence of the injured Karim Benzema he stood up when his side needed him aided by compatriot Rodrygo who got the third.
This week back in Spain, Madrid police had identified six people they believe were responsible for hanging a mannequin with a Vinicius shirt from a bridge in the Spanish capital ahead of the Madrid derby.
And La Liga submitted a complaint to the Public Prosecutor regarding racist abuse aimed at Vinicius in Mallorca at the weekend. The Brazil international has been vocal on social media about feeling not enough is being done to punish those responsible and eradicate the problem.
Real Madrid reached the Club World Cup final after overpowering Al Ahly 4-1 in Morocco
Los Blancos endured a brief scare after Al Ahly mounted a comeback before romping to win
He is not helped by the scandalous inference from some quarters that his behavior has somehow contributed to him being singled out.
But this was a night away from the Spanish spotlight. Vinicius also won a second half penalty but Luka Modric had his stopped kick save leaving Madrid to suffer through eight minutes of added time.
They had made hard work of it when, after Fede Valverde’s excellent second, Eduardo Camavinga gave away a penalty and Ali Maaloul scored it to narrow the margin. Rodrygo’s late goal confirmed their victory.
Real Madrid will play Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal after beating the African Champions in the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium – they were not at their best but it was enough to see them through.
Vinicius Jr put his Madrid side ahead in the first half after punishing an Al Ahly mistake
The impressive Federico Valverde then made it 2-0 just after half time to put Madrid in control
But Al Ahly rallied and earned a penalty after Camavinga fouled El Shahat – which was converted by Ali Maaloul
MATCH FACTS
Al Ahly: El Shenawy, Maaloul, Metwally, Abdelmonem, Hany, Dieng (Fathi 61), El Soulia, Afsha (Kahraba 88), Abdelkader, El Shahat (Taher 75), Sherif (Tau 61)
Subs not used: Lotfi, Alaa, Ashraf, Rabia, Ibrahim, Abdelfattah, Fakhri, Attia
Booked: Abdelmonem
Goal: Maaloul 65
Real Madrid: Lunin, Alaba, Rudiger, Nacho, Kroos (Ceballos 77), Modric (Odriozola 90+5), Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Vinicius Jr (Arribas 90+8), Rodrygo (Diaz 90+5),
Subs not used: Lopez, Canizares, Vallejo, Carvajal, Martin, Asensio
Booked: Tchouameni
Goals: Vinicius 42, Valverde 46, Rodrygo 90+2, Arribas 90+8
Madrid spent most of the first 20 minutes in Al-Ahly’s half but it was the Egyptian side who had the first chances with Hussein El Shahat going close and Metwaly Mahmoud heading over from a corner with Madrid exposed defensively.
The defender had come close to giving his side the lead but he was at fault when they went behind. He missed the ball allowing Vinicius clear two minutes before half time. He took two touches to set himself up and clipped the ball over the advancing Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Both Brazilians had gone close for Madrid. Vinicius had side-footed Rodrygo’s pass past the far post. Rodrygo then dribbled in from the left and clipped a shot against the near post.
The second goal came at the restart when Luka Modric slipped Rodrygo through and when El-Shenawy saved, the ball came out to Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan kept to his head to sidestep the defenders flying at his feet and blasting into the net.
Madrid came under pressure but were controversially awarded a penalty through VAR after Vinicius fell in the box – though there appeared to be no contact
Luka Modric stepped up to take the spot kick but saw it palmed away by Al Ahly’s keeper
Rodrygo then combined superbly with Dani Ceballos to ease Madrid’s nerves and add a third
Youngster Sergio Arribas made it four in the dying embers – moments after being subbed on
Metwaly then brought down Vinicius as he tricked his way along the byline inside the area. It looked a spot kick but both before and after VAR intervened referee Andrés Matonte waved away the appeals.
The next call for a penalty was accepted and it got Al-Ahly back in the game. Camavinga brought down El Shahat and Ali Maaloul sent Lunin the wrong way to make it 2-1.
Madrid were given a penalty with five minutes left of normal time when Vincius went down just inside the penalty area and VAR alerted Matonte but Modric’ kick was saved.
Madrid did get the third goal to settle the nerves and just as a Brazilian had started it so a Brazilian finished it. Rodrygo combined brilliantly inside the area with substitute Dani Ceballos before scoring from close range. Sergio Arribas netted the fourth with Madrid’s last attack.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
