Fluminense 2-0 Al Ahly: Jhon Arias and John Kennedy goals send Brazilian side into FIFA Club World Cup final

A penalty from Jhon Arias and John Kennedy’s last-minute strike secured Fluminense’s berth in the Club World Cup final at the expense of Al Ahly.

The breakthrough came for the Copa Libertadores champions when Marcelo controlled a crossfield ball, nutmegged Percy Tau and then ran across the line of the forward who brought him down in the area.

Arias calmly stroked the spot-kick into the corner 19 minutes from time.

Although it was a fairly even contest and the African champions had chances in both halves, the Rio giants were very close to taking the lead twice in the first half when Arias twice saw his effort come back off the post.

Al Ahly threw everything and everyone forward looking for an equaliser in the closing minutes, only for Fluminense substitute John Kennedy – just as in the Copa Libertadores final – to score after coming on from the bench.

Matheus Martinelli set the striker up on the edge of the area where he turned and clinically finished, leaving keeper Mohamed El Shenawy with no chance.

Fluminense will play the winner of Manchester City and Urawa Red Diamonds on Friday.

Fluminense’s crucial penalty might not have been awarded but having given the spot-kick, the referee’s decision was never going to be overturned. The Brazilian’s initial control was magnificent and knew – facing a forward more accomplished in the opposite penalty area – he could take advantage. Probably aware his pace these days would not have allowed him to set up a chance, Marcelo stepped across the forward and waited for contact from behind to go down. It was the kind of clever play worthy of his former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who he will match as a five-time winner of the competition if his boyhood club are victorious on Friday.

He can be frustrating, at times shooting when he might have passed, but he was the creative hub of all the African champions produced and it took some good stops from Fabio to deny him, and those who he created chances for, to stop his side getting on the scoresheet and perhaps ultimately taking the game into extra time.

Al Ahly: El Shennawy 6; Hany 7, Yasser 6, Abdul Elmonem 6, Maaloul; Tawfik 6, Attia 6, Ashour 6; Tau 6, El Shahat 8*, Kahraba 6.

Subs: Taher 6, Kafsha 6, Fouad 6, Al-Sulaya 6, Hisham 6.

Fluminense: Fabio 7; Samuel Xavier 7, Nino 7, Felipe Melo, Marcelo; Andre 7, Martinelli 7, Ganso 7; Arias 8, Keno 6, Cano 6.

Subs: Marlon 6, Lima 6, Kennedy 7, Barbosa 6, Guga 6.

9′ OFF THE POST! Keno with a fantastic cross from the left wing which Arias at the back post caught sweetly on the volley but saw it bounce off the outside of the near post.

24′ ARIAS HITS THE POST AGAIN! A well-worked corner saw a low ball from Ganso played to him at the near post 12 yards from goal, and the Al Ahly keeper could only look on in hope as it hit the post once more. It got a slight deflection off Attia which may have saved a goal.

63′ FABIO DENIES EL SHAHAT! The Egyptian forward cuts in from the right and guides an effort just inside the far post but Fabio pushes the effort away to his left, denying Kahraba an effort to notch a rebound.

67′ PENALTY FOR FLUMINENSE! Marcelo controlled a long cross-field ball beautifully and then nutmegged Tau before cutting across the forward’s path and falling to the ground. VAR will check it. Difficult to overturn a decision either way you would think.

71′GOAL FOR FLUMINENSE! Jhon Arias scores right into the left side-netting past the outstretched right arm of El Shenawy.

73′ TAU WITH A GREAT CHANCE! A fantastic ball from El Shaht finds Tau running diagonally into the middle of the penalty area but the forward’s header is straight at Fabio.

87′ GREAT STOP FROM EL SHENAWY! Fluminense breaking were two-versus-one and Kennedy played Cano through on goal in the right hand side of the penalty area but the Egyptian stopper rushed out of goal and stopped the forward’s attempted dink.

90′ GOAL FOR FLUMINENSE! John Kennedy seals Fluminense’s place in the final of the Club World Cup. Martinelli played him the ball on the edge of the area and the substitute turned inside and shot home with his left foot.

• 9 – Fluminense are the ninth different Brazilian side to reach the Fifa Club World Cup final.