Palmeiras star Raphael Veiga focused on Fifa Club World Cup crown after Al Ahly heroics

Attacking midfielder scored and assisted the other in 2-0 win against Egyptians in Abu Dhabi

Raphael Veiga celebrates after scoring Palmeiras' first goal in their 2-0 win against Al Ahly in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. All images by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Raphael Veiga scores for Palmeiras against Al Ahly.

Al Ahly's Mohamed Hany is chased by Rony of Palmeiras.

Raphael Veiga celebrates after scoring for Palmeiras.

Palmeiras fans during the game in Abu Dhabi.

Raphael Veiga scores for Palmeiras.

Rony of Palmeiras under pressure from Al Ahly's Yasser Ibrahim.

Raphael Veiga celebrates scoring for Palmeiras.

Dudu celebrates scoring Palmeiras' second goal.

Dudu celebrates scoring Palmeiras' second goal.

Al Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane.

Dudu celebrates scoring Palmeiras' second goal.

Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira.

Gustavo Scarpa takes a corner for Palmeiras.

Al Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane with his Palmeiras counterpart Abel Ferreira before the game.

Al Ahly fans before the game.

Palmeiras fans before the game.

Palmeiras fans before the game.

Al Ahly fans before the game.

Palmeiras midfielder Raphael Veiga has set his sights on “nothing less” than winning the Fifa Club World Cup after his man-of-the-match display helped secure a place in the final in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Veiga opened the scoring in Tuesday night’s semi-final against African champions Al Ahly at Al Nahyan Stadium, before he assisted teammate Duda in the second half as Palmeiras ran out 2-0 winners.

The victory sent the 2021 Copa Libertadores winners through to the showpiece in the capital this weekend, where they will face either Chelsea or Al Hilal. Those two sides meet on Wednesday night, in the other semi-final at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium.

Speaking to Fifa.com back at his team hotel late on Tuesday, Veiga said: “It’s a unique moment in my career. To score a goal in a competition as important as the Club World Cup, it’s indescribable. It’s one of the best moments of my life.

“I don’t have the words to properly describe it, but I’m really, really happy. This will go down in my career for ever. I’m delighted with the goal, the victory, how the team played. I’m really emotional.

“It’s a big party right now. Everyone’s enjoying it to the maximum. In the dressing room, on the bus… it’s pure euphoria. We know what a big responsibility we have here, we know how much it means to the club, the fans.

"We’re very pleased with the victory and the way we got it. Tonight we’re going to enjoy this as much as possible and tomorrow we’ll be back to work.”

Competing in the Club World Cup for the second successive year – Abel Ferreira's side lost in the last four 12 months ago – Palmeiras are seeking to become the first Brazilian winner of the trophy since Corinthians in 2012. Incidentally, Corinthians defeated Chelsea in that year's final.

“We’re very pleased with this victory,” Veiga said. “We know how tough every game is at a Club World Cup. But Palmeiras came here to become world champions – nothing less. We have faith, we believe we can do it.

“We have worked so hard for this. Our opponents are still to be determined. Regardless of who goes through, it will be a really tough game. But we believe in ourselves.”