• AL HILAL RATINGS: Abdullah Al Mayouf – 7. Well positioned to keep out a shot from Lukuku in the first half, and had to be at full stretch to keep out Ziyech later on. PA
    AL HILAL RATINGS: Abdullah Al Mayouf – 7. Well positioned to keep out a shot from Lukuku in the first half, and had to be at full stretch to keep out Ziyech later on. PA
  • Yasir Al Shahrani – 7. Failed to deal with Havertz’s cross, which presented the opener to Lukaku, but he did not shirk the challenge at any stage. Linked up excellently with Al Dawsari at times. Getty
    Yasir Al Shahrani – 7. Failed to deal with Havertz’s cross, which presented the opener to Lukaku, but he did not shirk the challenge at any stage. Linked up excellently with Al Dawsari at times. Getty
  • Jang Hyun-soo – 6. His indecisiveness early on put his side under pressure a number of times. Settled better thereafter, and might have scored at a corner, but his header went wide. EPA
    Jang Hyun-soo – 6. His indecisiveness early on put his side under pressure a number of times. Settled better thereafter, and might have scored at a corner, but his header went wide. EPA
  • Mohammed Al Breik – 7. Showed great poise to evade the Chelsea press early on. It should have settled his side’s nerves, if there were any. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mohammed Al Breik – 7. Showed great poise to evade the Chelsea press early on. It should have settled his side’s nerves, if there were any. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ali Al Bulaihi – 7. Marking Romelu Lukaku is no easy task, but he coped admirably. Was growing terse by the end, though, and he was booked after a skirmish with Mount. PA
    Ali Al Bulaihi – 7. Marking Romelu Lukaku is no easy task, but he coped admirably. Was growing terse by the end, though, and he was booked after a skirmish with Mount. PA
  • Gustavo Cuellar – 6. Wasteful when Hilal had a chance on the break, as he failed to pick a pass. Booked for a necessary foul on Havertz. Had his work cut out against Kovacic, Jorginho and Kante. AP
    Gustavo Cuellar – 6. Wasteful when Hilal had a chance on the break, as he failed to pick a pass. Booked for a necessary foul on Havertz. Had his work cut out against Kovacic, Jorginho and Kante. AP
  • Moussa Marega – 6. Failed to get the ball under control twice when Hilal were in promising positions early on. Shot at Arrizabalaga when clean through. AP
    Moussa Marega – 6. Failed to get the ball under control twice when Hilal were in promising positions early on. Shot at Arrizabalaga when clean through. AP
  • Mohammed Kanno – 8. Important at defensive set pieces, and made brave blocks from Ziyech and Mount. Hit a shot from range just over as Hilal threatened a fightback. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mohammed Kanno – 8. Important at defensive set pieces, and made brave blocks from Ziyech and Mount. Hit a shot from range just over as Hilal threatened a fightback. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Matheus Pereira – 6. His sloppiness in possession in his own half twice put Hilal under pressure. Showed some quality when he slipped Marega through for Hilal’s first clear opening, and was brighter from then on. Getty
    Matheus Pereira – 6. His sloppiness in possession in his own half twice put Hilal under pressure. Showed some quality when he slipped Marega through for Hilal’s first clear opening, and was brighter from then on. Getty
  • Salem Al Dawsari – 6. Fired a shot from the edge over the bar after a neat interchange with Al Shahrani. Shone at times, but did not see the ball as often as his side would have liked. AP
    Salem Al Dawsari – 6. Fired a shot from the edge over the bar after a neat interchange with Al Shahrani. Shone at times, but did not see the ball as often as his side would have liked. AP
  • Odion Ighalo – 4. Hilal needed more from their new signing. Too often the Nigerian striker was static, and he was lucky not to be withdrawn when Leonardo Jardim made attacking changes with 10 minutes to go. Getty
    Odion Ighalo – 4. Hilal needed more from their new signing. Too often the Nigerian striker was static, and he was lucky not to be withdrawn when Leonardo Jardim made attacking changes with 10 minutes to go. Getty
  • SUBS: Andre Carrillo – N/A. Beat a hasty retreat down the tunnel at full time. Appeared frustrated not to have been given enough time to make an impact. EPA. Michael – N/A.
    SUBS: Andre Carrillo – N/A. Beat a hasty retreat down the tunnel at full time. Appeared frustrated not to have been given enough time to make an impact. EPA. Michael – N/A.
  • CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 8. Brilliant saves to keep out Marega from close range and Kanno from distance. Impressive sharpness given he was not much troubled otherwise. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 8. Brilliant saves to keep out Marega from close range and Kanno from distance. Impressive sharpness given he was not much troubled otherwise. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Thiago Silva – 7. Might as well have been playing in a dinner jacket. The Brazilian centre back is all class. PA
    Thiago Silva – 7. Might as well have been playing in a dinner jacket. The Brazilian centre back is all class. PA
  • Antonio Rudiger – 8. Former Porto forward Marega was one of the few Hilal players Chelsea had an in-depth knowledge on before the game. Rudiger had him in his pocket throughout. AP
    Antonio Rudiger – 8. Former Porto forward Marega was one of the few Hilal players Chelsea had an in-depth knowledge on before the game. Rudiger had him in his pocket throughout. AP
  • Andreas Christensen – 6. A quiet night until right at the end, when he somehow managed to avoid a booking for a WWE-style takedown on Ighalo. AFP
    Andreas Christensen – 6. A quiet night until right at the end, when he somehow managed to avoid a booking for a WWE-style takedown on Ighalo. AFP
  • Cesar Azpilicueta – 6. Al Dawsari and Al Sharani linked up well down Hilal’s left, and Chelsea’s captain was caught out on occasion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Cesar Azpilicueta – 6. Al Dawsari and Al Sharani linked up well down Hilal’s left, and Chelsea’s captain was caught out on occasion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Marcos Alonso – 5. Upended Marega early on. Later had the same treatment meted out to him by Kanno. Did little of note before making way for Sarr. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Marcos Alonso – 5. Upended Marega early on. Later had the same treatment meted out to him by Kanno. Did little of note before making way for Sarr. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Mateo Kovacic – 7. Lucky not be censured for a clip on Ighalo’s heels which left the striker in a heap. Later booked for a foul on Al Dawsari. Good in possession, but still a surprising choice as man of the match. Getty
    Mateo Kovacic – 7. Lucky not be censured for a clip on Ighalo’s heels which left the striker in a heap. Later booked for a foul on Al Dawsari. Good in possession, but still a surprising choice as man of the match. Getty
  • Jorginho – 6. Barely needed to break sweat in the 45 minutes he was on for. Replaced by Kante at the interval. AFP
    Jorginho – 6. Barely needed to break sweat in the 45 minutes he was on for. Replaced by Kante at the interval. AFP
  • Romelu Lukaku – 6. Maybe he was saving up his energy for the final. He really did not get through much work. Earned his money with the decisive goal, though. PA
    Romelu Lukaku – 6. Maybe he was saving up his energy for the final. He really did not get through much work. Earned his money with the decisive goal, though. PA
  • Hakim Ziyech – 7. Surprising he did not score given the number of shots he rained in. Twice it was down to good goalkeeping. Taken off just as he was starting a fight. Getty
    Hakim Ziyech – 7. Surprising he did not score given the number of shots he rained in. Twice it was down to good goalkeeping. Taken off just as he was starting a fight. Getty
  • Kai Havertz – 8. Played the cross from which Lukaku eventually struck the opener. Struck a post after a fine run. The brightest of Chelsea’s attackers. PA
    Kai Havertz – 8. Played the cross from which Lukaku eventually struck the opener. Struck a post after a fine run. The brightest of Chelsea’s attackers. PA
  • SUBS: Ngolo Kante – 7. On for Jorginho at the interval, and was his usual ubiquitous self as he dominated midfield. Reuters
    SUBS: Ngolo Kante – 7. On for Jorginho at the interval, and was his usual ubiquitous self as he dominated midfield. Reuters
  • Mason Mount – N/A. On for Ziyech late on, the biggest impression he made was by riling most of the Hilal backline. AFP
    Mason Mount – N/A. On for Ziyech late on, the biggest impression he made was by riling most of the Hilal backline. AFP
  • Malang Sarr – N/A. Little to do after his late introduction for Alonso, but still enamoured himself to his side’s fans after successfully retrieving an apparently lost ball on the left flank. Reuters
    Malang Sarr – N/A. Little to do after his late introduction for Alonso, but still enamoured himself to his side’s fans after successfully retrieving an apparently lost ball on the left flank. Reuters

Sport

Football

Al Hilal v Chelsea player ratings: Kanno 8, Ighalo 4; Lukaku 6, Havertz 8

Blues made to fight for win in Club World Cup semi-final at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium

Paul Radley
Paul Radley

February 10, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Chelsea fought their way into the Fifa Club World Cup final after Romelu Lukaku scored a much-needed goal in a laborious win over Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal on Wednesday that set up a title match with South American champions Palmeiras.

Chelsea's club-record signing had failed to score in five games before arriving in Abu Dhabi, and the Blues were hoping for Lukaku to find his form ahead of the second half of the season.

The Belgian swept in from close range on 32 minutes at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium after a defensive lapse to send Chelsea through to Saturday's final.

"Everybody's very happy that Romelu scored," said Chelsea assistant Zsolt Low, who was filling in for Thomas Tuchel after the head coach tested positive for Covid-19.

"He fights very hard and tried very hard in the last game to give everything. That's why we give him the chance all the time game to game, and we hope that he has a bit of luck to score.

"He scored a goal today and we're very happy, he's very happy and we hope he continues and then scores again in the final."

Chelsea will be hoping to become the third English side to win the Club World Cup after Manchester United and Liverpool, having finished as runners-up to Corinthians in 2012.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above.

Updated: February 10, 2022, 3:33 AM
Abu Dhabi