Urawa Reds v Manchester City result - Club World Cup final confirmed as Kovacic and Silva net for City

Club World Cup / Semi-final

Alinma Stadium / 19.12.2023

Urawa Red Diamonds

Completed

Manchester City

M. Høibråten(45+2' O.G)
M. Kovacic(53')
B. Silva(60')

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14/07/2025 at 13:11

MAN CITY EASE INTO FIRST CLUB WORD CUP FINAL

Manchester City eased to victory in their Club World Cup debut against Urawa Red Diamonds, as Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva and an own-goal from Marius Hoibraten saw them advance to the final.

It wasn’t a blowout victory by any means, as the regimented Asian champions frustrated Man City for most of the first half, defending the edge of their penalty area with discipline and forcing their illustrious opponents to resort to long-range efforts.

They deserved to reach the break level but fell behind in stoppage time when Hoibraten turned Matheus Nunes’ low cross into his own net, and the Japanese side were out of ideas trying to fight back in the second half.

Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne watched on from the stands but it was still a strong squad named by Pep Guardiola with just four changes: Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis and Julian Alvarez all dropped to the bench after Saturday’s draw with Crystal Palace.

The Citizens aren’t in Premier League action until after Christmas and will face Fluminense in Friday’s Club World Cup final while Urawa’s season is over, the J1 League season is complete and they didn’t make it out of the AFC Champions League group stage.

FULL-TIME: URAWA REDS 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY

And that's all she wrote! An entertaining fixture for much of the first half, Hoibraten's own-goal was the predictable turning point and Urawa were too open in the second-half as they chased an equaliser, then a consolation goal.

90+2'

WATCH: BERNARDO SILVA ADDS THE THIRD

Urawa have a corner but it's for a consolation goal at this point, thanks to Silva's goal.

'Comfortable now for Man City' - Bernardo Silva adds a third against Urawa Reds

Video credit: TNT Sports

90'

THREE ADDED MINUTES

Even the fourth official wants to get out early...

89'

GAME FIZZLES OUT

Predictably the sting has gone out of this game as Gomez attempts a shot from range. He should've been on in the first half with those tactics!

86'

NUNES BOOKED

He's played very well tonight but Nunes is into the book for a late challenge.

83'

URAWA CLOSE AGAIN!

The ball has broken a couple of times for Urawa in the Man City box and they had another chance there, Shoya Nakajima took a touch but Ederson was out incredibly quickly to clear it with a slide-tackle.

80'

URAWA CHANGE

Ken Iwao looked dehydrated as he trudge off there.

80'

GOMEZ ON

As is Gomez.

80'

CITY DOUBLE-CHANGE

Kalvin Phillips trots on for some valuable minutes...

79'

WATCH: HOIBRATEN OWN GOAL STARTS CITY PARTY

As Bobb almost sets up a fourth for Alvarez, again, how would the game luck if it wasn't for this moment of misfortune?

'He didn't know what was behind him' - Hoibraten own goal gives City semi-final lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

76'

BOBB IS HIM

This isn't exactly a fresh take, but Oscar Bobb is quite good isn't he? Manchester City haven't had unlimited success with one-on-one dribbles tonight by any means but the Norwegian just danced past his defender like he wasn't even there before sending in a dangerous shot-cross.

73'

WATCH: KOVACIC PUTS CITY 2-0 UP

One who's still on the field from the starting XI, this put the game to bed from Kovacic:

'Brilliantly done' - Kovacic puts Man City 2-0 up against Urawa Reds

Video credit: TNT Sports

71'

BOBB CLOSE

The first to make a real impression in attack for City, Oscar Bobb recieved the ball around the penalty spot and opened his body up for a well-hit shot, but it just flashed past the wrong side of the post.

69'

RAFT OF CHANGES

Get set for a lot of substitution updates...

67'

URAWA ALMOST SCORE!

Gvardiol - on in a host of changes for both sides - attempted a bit of a miracle ball across the box that was pounced on by Shoya Nakajima and Bryan Linssen, also new faces.

He had half an opening but Ederson was quickly out and John Stones clears up from there.

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