Views: 67

Fluminense-Al Hilal 2-1: The Inter’s heroes also defeat the former coach of the Nerazzurri, who can complain about two denied penalties.

The adventure of Simone Inzaghi and Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup ends in the quarterfinals. A virtuous journey, marked by some excellent victories (especially over Manchester City) and which saw the Saudi team often exceed its real possibilities. The dream of Fluminense continues, after eliminating Inter in the semifinals, they will face either Chelsea with Maresca or the Brazilian derby against Palmeiras.

Fluminense-Al Hilal 2-1, Inzaghi out but those two “ghost” penalties cry out for revenge

The Italian coach is struggling with a limited number of players. This is due to the fact that Al Hilal does not have a very deep squad (they are very strong in the starting eleven, but there is a huge gap in technical level between the starters and their substitutes), and they are plagued by injuries and suspensions. Due to the numerous absences, the Saudi club was forced to borrow the 34-year-old local striker Hamdallah from Al-Shabab (a prolific professional in his country) in a very “particular” deal.

Indeed, the Saudi center-forward joined Inzaghi’s team on a loan deal only until the end of the Club World Cup. Therefore, the 15 minutes (plus injury time) of tonight are (and will be) the only ones played with the Al Hilal shirt. This is due to the injury of the starting center-forward (former Fulham Mitrovic) and the not perfect physical condition of Malcom, who was still a starter and one of the best players on the losing side.

It must be said that his replacement, Marcos Leonardo, did not make him regret his absence. With 4 goals and the title of top scorer of the tournament, tied with the eternal Di Maria. One of these four goals came tonight, to equalize the initial Brazilian advantage (facilitated by a glaring error from Cancelo) scored by Martinelli: a midfielder from Fluminense who promises to be at the center of the transfer market this summer.

Between the two goals of the two compatriots, Al Hilal can complain about a goal first awarded directly by referee Makkelie and then revoked after an On Field Review. Finally, now the referees explain the reason for their decisions, but perhaps it would have been better if they had not. In fact, the Dutch referee described the incident as a “normal contact of play” that he “had not seen directly“.

A justifiable decision, given that the contact between the two players is light and unintentional, but for years we had been told that if there is contact, the VAR cannot intervene because only the on-field referee can judge its extent. With this rule also gone, one of the few certainties for fans and professionals in the era of poorly applied technology in football disappears, and this is demonstrated in the final moments of the match.

The former Napoli Koulibaly is repeatedly tackled in the box by Inacio, who, after a series of repeated but mutual holds, drags the Senegalese central defender to the ground with a move more suited for rugby than football. Makkelie remains silent, the VAR shrugs, and the game becomes even more heated. Koulibaly himself will also be booked for simulation in the frantic final minutes, but in reality, there is contact between his heel and the leg of the Fluminense defender. Perhaps it is not a penalty, but it is certainly not simulation.

However, Fluminense resists stoically and reaches the semifinals (where they will face either Chelsea with Enzo Maresca or Palmeiras) with an enviable track record: they have conceded only one goal in the second halves of the last ten official matches. Inzaghi’s team licks its wounds, maybe deserving more for what they showed on the field, but they physiologically paid the price for a squad not equipped for this kind of competition. In the case of qualification, the Italian coach would have had to do without Ruben Neves, Renan Lodi, and Koulibaly himself: all cautioned and booked tonight.

Too many for a team with a thin squad that forced the former Nerazzurri coach to adapt the Brazilian full-back, formerly from Atletico Madrid, to an unfamiliar role, as the left center-back in a back three, to try to plug the gaps. It was precisely due to his failed intervention, probably also influenced by the caution, that the executioner of Inter Hercules (who replaced Martinelli, the best player on the field and scorer of the 1-0 goal) scored another crucial goal and fueled Fluminense’s dream.

SIMONE INZAGHI LANCIA IL PALLONE ( FOTO DI SALVATORE FORNELLI )