Al Jazira nearly pulled off what would have easily been the biggest result in the club’s history as they took a shock 1-0 lead against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup quarter-final, only for the La Liga champions and Champions League winners to kill the fairytale with a late comeback in a 2-1 win.
It was nevertheless a valiant performance from the Arabian Gulf League winners, for whom Romarinho scored a goal he will always remember.
Cristiano Ronaldo and then Gareth Bale, with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, scored late goals after Madrid were denied throughout the game by some heroic goalkeeping and defending, not to mention the woodwork.
Here we rate the players from both sides.
AL JAZIRA
Khaseif 9 – A combination of the UAE No1, the woodwork and VAR contrived to see miracles performed. Incredible.
M. Al Attas 5 – Was pulled apart at times by Isco, but the youngster will have learned so much from this.
Fayez 7 – The club stalwart pulled off some essential last-ditch tackles and held the five-man defence together.
Juma 6 – Tried to add some physicality at the back. Struggled at times with Karim Benzema, which is hardly a surprise.
Ayed 7 – Not only defended well. His positive use of the ball tried to stem the pressure.
Rashid 7 – Was tested like never before. Caught behind a few times, but stood up well.
Yousif 6 – Had played in the Club World Cup before for Al Wahda. This was a contrasting task and he stood up well.
Khali. Mubarak 6 – The teenager was only here because of a plethora of senior injuries. Did his bit to try and hold back the Madrid tide.
Boussoufa 8 – The Morocco midfielder’s experience was vital. Even tried to get forward.
Romarinho 8 – A place in history was earned by his beautifully taken goal. Such calm and finesse from the 2012 Club World Cup winner with Corinthians. Now, a living Jazira legend.
Mabkhout 7 – Outshone, slightly, by his strike. Yet the UAE’s resident hot shot only just missed out on a memorable goal.
A goal against Real Madrid – Romarinho became an instant Al Jazira legend.
SUBS
Al Senaani 7 – Was beaten by Ronalo soon after coming on, but still stood up well.
Al Otaibah 6 – Tried to add a physical presence in centre midfield.
Rabea 5 – Looked daunted by the occasion and opponents.
A fantastic effort from @AlJazira_uae, but goals from @Cristiano and @GarethBale11 send #RealMadrid into the #ClubWC final! pic.twitter.com/RHXJGYRZZ5
— Sport360° (@Sport360) December 13, 2017
REAL MADRID
Navas 6 – Was a passenger until he has to pick the ball out of his net.
Hakimi 5 – The goal came from his side and he had little impact going forward. Shame for the Morocco international on Arab soil.
Varane 5 – Allowed Romarinhoo far too much space to find the bottom corner.
Nacho 6 – Was stretched at times on the counter-attack.
Marcelo 7 – A constant threat on the overlap. Took until the second half to make a telling difference.
Modric 7 – Couldn’t believe how Khaseif kept denying him. Always a threat on the edge of the penalty box, with a lovely pass produced for Ronaldo’s leveller.
Casemiro 5 – Robbed of the ball in build-up to Romarinho’s opener.
Kovacic 5 – Had negligible impact on the match. Needs to seize chances like this.
Isco 7 – Madrid’s most-dangerous player, by a distance. Team-mates struggled to finish off his chances.
Benzema 6 – VAR and the woodwork conspired to create another scoreless night for the French forward.
Ronaldo 7 – Huge cheers from the crowd every time he touched the ball. Scored adroitly with his ninth shot.
Cristiano Ronaldo – who else – scored Real Madrid’s equaliser.
Substitutes
Vazquez 6 – His energy helped to unsettle Jazira’s defence.
Asensio 6 – Looked to create havoc from centre midfield.
Bale 7 – What a first touch. Belied his injury troubles to produce the match-winning goal.
