Real Madrid beat Pachuca to claim FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar
Al Jazeera
Europe’s most successful club overcome Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 at Lusail Stadium to win FIFA’s new look global club crown.
Real Madrid won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup after beating Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 in a largely one-sided final in Qatar, with Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr all on target.
The Spanish giants did just enough to win comfortably on Wednesday and never looked likely to cede control, despite allowing the CONCACAF champions to threaten occasionally from counter-attacks at Lusail Stadium.
The Champions League winners opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a fine team goal that started with Jude Bellingham passing to Vinicius Jr, who ran past the goalkeeper before putting it on a plate for Mbappe, who tapped it into the empty net.
Rodrygo extended their lead with a lovely effort in the 52nd minute when he beat two defenders before cutting back inside and curling a fine strike into the top corner with his right foot.
Vinicius Junior, who won the FIFA Best men’s award on Tuesday, wrapped up an easy win for Real from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute after Oussama Idrissi fouled captain Lucas Vazquez inside the box.
