Manchester City reached the final of the World Club Cup with a 3-0 win over Asian Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds.
City manager Pep Guardiola was happy that City are now within reach of the one trophy that is missing from their trophy cabinet.
He said: “We didn’t expect that Urawa would play so compact, so deep. I used Phil [Foden] as centre forward. He felt more comfortable in the middle and Bernardo [Silva] on the wing.
“To get here we had to win the Champions League. We are where we wanted to be.
“I’m happy to get to the final against Fluminense, the only title that the club don’t have.
Although they travelled to Saudi Arabia with a full squad they played without either Kevin De Bruyne or Erling Haaland who were not involved in the game.
Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and Matheus Nunes were brought into the side that drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis, and Julian Alvarez stepped down to the bench.
City failed to make more of the chances they created for themselves.
The Japanese side proved to be stubborn, defensive opponents and although lacking in attacking ideas they made City toil until the stroke of half time when Norwegian defender Marius Hoibraten’s own goal from Matheus Nunes’ cross broke the deadlock.
The lead allowed City to open the floodgates in the second half and they wrapped up the win by the hour mark after goals by Mateo Kovacic – who was allowed space to run onto Kyle Walker’s cross and double the lead after 52 minutes.
Bernardo Silva made sure of victory, putting away rebound after Nunes had a shot blocked.
City will now go into the final on Friday against Brazilian side Fluminense who won the Copa Libertadores – the Champions League for South America – and beat Al Ahly to reach the final against City.
The fixture had been largely expected and the Blues will now have a chance to lift a “once in a lifetime” piece of silverware on Friday.