Man City v Urawa Reds LIVE: Result and reaction from Club World Cup as City cruise into final

Man City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds: Goals for Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, as well as an own goal, did the job in Saudi Arabia

Academy investment is really paying off - Guardiola

Manchester City outclassed Urawa Red Diamonds in a 3-0 victory in the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium to set up a Club World Cup final showdown against Brazilian side Fluminense.

European champions City were frustrated by a well-organised Japanese side during the opening half but took the lead with an own goal by Marius Hoibraten in stoppage time.

Mateo Kovacic made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute and Bernardo Silva's deflected shot a few minutes later meant City could play the rest of the game in cruise control.

Pep Guardiola's City, who had won only three of their previous eight games in all competitions, are looking to become the fourth English club to win the title after Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

They will start as heavy favourites in Friday's final against Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense who on Monday beat Egypt's Al-Ahly 2-0.

Relive the action below

Manchester City vs Urawa Red Diamonds live

• Manchester City beat Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in the Club World Cup
• City entered the competition at the semi-final stage and need just one more win to lift the trophy
• FULL-TIME! Man City 3-0 Urawa Reds
• 59’ - GOAL! Silva’s effort deflects beyond the goalkeeper (MCI 3-0 URD)
• 52’ - GOAL! Kovacic finishes well after perfect ball slid through (MCI 2-0 URD)
• 45+1’ - GOAL! Hoibraten turns Nunes’s cross into his own net (MCI 1-0 URD)
• 32’ - SAVE! Nunes’s driven shot topped over the bar (MCI 0-0 URD)

[19 December 2023 19:28 · Luke Baker]

CHANCE! Man City 3-0 Urawa Reds

66 mins: Almost a horror show from Man City! They’re far too lackadaisical in defence as Walker and Ake get themselves into trouble and Linsson - only just on as a sub nips in. Ederson quickly off his line to close down the space on the left and Linsson tries to square for a teammate to tap in but CIty scramble it out for a corner.

[19 December 2023 19:25 · Luke Baker]

Man City 3-0 Urawa Reds

65 mins: Change ahoy! Triple sub for City as Josko Gvardiol, Oscar Bobb and Julian Alvarez come on for Akanji, Foden and Silva. Bryan Linsson and Shoya Nakajima on for Urawa as Koizumi and Kante head off

[19 December 2023 19:24 · Luke Baker]

Man City 3-0 Urawa Reds

62 mins: Jack Grealish misses a golden opportunity to make it four! Gets into the box but takes too many touches as he tries to go round Nishikawa when he comes out to the penalty spot but the Japanese goalkeeper dives and manages to get a touch to take it away from the England international. Grealish needed to shoot earlier.

[19 December 2023 19:19 · Luke Baker]

GOAL! Man City 3-0 Urawa Reds (Silva 59’) ⚽

Now it’s 3-0 and things looking bad for Urawa. Nunes cuts in from the left and gets a shot on target. Decent save by Nishikawa who pushes the ball out to the edge of the box where Bernardo Silva picks it up and fires at goal.

An unfortunate deflection off Hoibraten, who scored the own goal earlier, and that helps take it beyond Nishikawa into the left corner. Silva almost looks too embarrassed to celebrate.

[19 December 2023 19:17 · Luke Baker]

Man City 2-0 Urawa Reds

57 mins: A couple of changes for the Red Diamonds as Ito and Okubo come off with Ogiwara and Schalk on in their places. Schalk was the man who scored the winner from the bench in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Club Leon. Another goal here would be some scalp.

[19 December 2023 19:16 · Luke Baker]

CHANCE! Man City 2-0 Urawa Reds

56 mins: Nunes has to score there! Great play by Grealish to get down the outside, stands up a lovely cross to Nunes six yards out who head the ball down but somehow wide of the post! Bad miss.

[19 December 2023 19:13 · Luke Baker]

Man City 2-0 Urawa Reds

54 mins: It really was a nice goal by City. HArd to see a way back for Urawa now.

[19 December 2023 19:11 · Luke Baker]

GOAL! Man City 2-0 Urawa Reds (Kovacic 52’) ⚽

Game, set and match City. And a lovely finish by Mateo Kovacic.

Superb run by the central midfielder who splits the centre-backs and the ball slid through to him is perfect. He takes it in his stride, good second touch and lifts it over the goalkeeper as he rushes out. A first Man City goal for Kovacic and it was a classy one.

[19 December 2023 19:09 · Luke Baker]

Man City 1-0 Urawa Reds

50 mins: City would love a second goal for a variety of reasons but one is that it would allow Guardiola to make a few changes, should he so desire. Patient build-up so far but no breakthrough in this second half.

[19 December 2023 19:06 · Luke Baker]

Man City 1-0 Urawa Reds

47 mins: Slight heart-in-mouth moment as Kyle Walker loses the ball in defence and Kante looks interested in the box but Ederson quickly off his line to tidy things up. Walker looks slightly sheepish.