A commanding 2-0 victory over Egypt’s Pyramids FC in Qatar has secured Brazil’s Flamengo a spot in the final of the Intercontinental Cup.
The Rio de Janeiro giants will now face European champions Paris Saint-Germain for the trophy this Wednesday in Doha.
The semifinal match was defined by aerial dominance, with both Flamengo goals coming from set-piece headers.
Defender Léo Pereira broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, soaring above the Pyramids defense to head powerfully into the roof of the net. Midfielder Danilo sealed the victory in the 52nd minute, arriving unmarked at the far post to direct a downward header past goalkeeper Ahmed Elshennawy.
Flamengo’s path to the final underscores their current form. Fresh from winning the Copa Libertadores just two weeks prior, they entered this tournament with a lot of momentum.
Their campaign began with a hard fought 2-1 quarterfinal win over Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the celebrated “Derby of the Americas.”
The Intercontinental Cup features the six continental club champions in a streamlined format, designed to exist alongside FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup, which debuted last year and will be held every four years.
Their opponents, Paris Saint-Germain, qualified automatically for the final as holders of the UEFA Champions League title.
The stage is now set for a continental showdown between South American and European champions to crown the world best club champion.
