FC Bayern beat a spirited Al Ahly 2-0 on Monday, advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Robert Lewandowski rewarded Bayern’s first-half-dominance after a quarter-hour. Bayern were wasteful with their chances before easing off after half-time, but Lewandowski put the game to bed in the closing stages.

After three minutes, Kahraba shot a ball from the center of the field after seeing Neuer out of his goal; however, Neuer was able to save the ball.

Munich were dominant throughout the first half, a Gnabry header giving notice of their approach. Keeper El Shenawy proved equal to a Müller header, but Lewandowski soon drew first blood, slotting home from a Gnabry cutback in the 17th minute.

Roca first just wide and saw another effort saved two minutes later.

With less than 30 minutes into the game, Maaloul was replaced by defender Yasser Ibrahim, after falling down on the pitch due to picking up an injury.

In the 33rd minute, Al Ahly built the play from the back all the way to attacking player, Mohamed Magdy Afsha who got the ball and shot it off target.

Gnabry warmed El Shenawy’s gloves before Lewandowski fired over the bar. Davied rifled wide, Kimmich seeing an effort saved, and Bayern were only one goal up at half-time thanks to a resolute Al Ahly defense.

The second half was more balanced, Bayern struggling with stray passing and proving uninspired in attack. Hussein El Shahat saw a shot blocked before El Shenawy tipped a Müller header over the bar.

In the 58th minute, El Shenawy appeared once again to save Muller’s header.

After six minutes, Leroy Sane and Eric Choupo-Moting from FC Bayern Munich entered the match replacing Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller.

Al Ahly grew more into the game, Mohamed Hany and Hussein El Shahaat passed the ball to each other in order to create a goal-scoring chance, but the opponent’s defense managed to intercept the ball.

With only twenty minutes to go Al Ahly brought in Aliou Dieng, Salah Mohsen, and Walter Bwalya to replace El Shahaat, Kahraba, and Afsha.

In the following minutes, both teams exchanged several goal-scoring opportunities, but the score remained unchanged.

In the 83rd minute, Al Ahly’s manager Pitso Mosimane made the final substitution in the game replacing Taher with Mohamed Sherif.

It was three minutes later that Lewandowski’s header, after a cross from Sane, doubled the score for Bayern Munich.

In the 90th minute, the referee gave four additional minutes but both teams failed to score. The referee then ended the match to announce FC Bayern Munich’s 2-0 victory.

Al Ahly will face Brazil’s Palmeiras on Thursday in order to decide who will be third and fourth place.

Soka25east.com