Fluminense beat Al Ahly to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup final.
The Brazilian Copa Libertadores champions might have an aging team but they showed that class is permanent on a hot night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Their extra quality was the difference against a well-organised but in the end, limited, Egyptian opponent.
Flu, backed by a lively but vastly outnumbered group of fans, fielded a mix of vast experience (in Marcelo, Felipe Melo, German Cano, and 43-year-old goalie Fabio) and relative youngsters in Martinelli and Andre.
Though they looked potentially vulnerable at times in transition, those older heads never let the club down.
Fabio stopped all the opposition efforts and was never truly troubled while it was the legendary Marcelo, a left-back who also plays on the right wing, who engineered the crucial opening goal.
The ex-Real Madrid star, with four Club World Cup titles to his credit, was brought down in the area to give the excellent Jhon Arias the chance to confidently dispatch the spot-kick.
That changed the contest and allowed the Brazilians to establish control despite Al Ahly’s inevitably frantic efforts to recover.
And, with the Egyptian defence left exposed substitute John Kennedy would apply the coupe de grace in the final minute.
It was a disappointing outcome for the vast Al Alhy support who had roared on their heroes in the impressive King Abdullah Sports City.
But they had to accept that their team could not quite find that telling pass or shot despite some dangerous-looking counterattacks.
South African Percy Tau threatened at times, El Shahat produced some strikes, and Tunisian Maaloul delivered some searching corners but ultimately the old stagers prevailed.
Al Ahly do however, have the consolation of bidding for a place on ‘the podium’ when they meet either Manchester City or more likely Urawa Reds, in the third-place match.
Meanwhile, Fernando Diniz’ Fluminense will prepare for a final and the chance to become the first South American, and non-European, club to win the FCWC in over ten years.
They probably won’t be favourites (against Manchester City) but when they have such class and experience among the squad there is always some hope.
Analysis, from Jeddah - John Bethell
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