Real Madrid Secures Intercontinental Cup After Beating Pachuca
Real Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup after beating Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 in the final on Wednesday, with Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr all on target, at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
The UEFA 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 Jr then 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.
Having won three trophies in the original Intercontinental Cup, the predecessor to the current format that pitched the European and South American champions against each other, and five Club World Cups, Real have now won a combined total of nine global titles.
Real did just enough to win comfortably and never looked likely to cede control despite allowing the CONCACAF champions to threaten occasionally from counter-attacks.
Our 2024 #FIFAIntercontinentalCup winners, @realmadrid! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/ZaaWQ6RHO1
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 18, 2024
“We are very happy for another title,” Rodrygo said in an interview. “I was a bit anxious with the goal because Jude (Bellingham) was in front of the goalkeeper but he doesn’t interfere with the play, so I’m happy to help the team.”
“Vinicius is great, he is playing really well right now and we are pleased to have him with us. We have a great team and we are delighted.”
Real Madrid are no strangers to finals. 🏆 #FIFAIntercontinentalCup pic.twitter.com/B1KokPZJM9
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 18, 2024
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