Fluminense reach Club World Cup final over Al Ahly

Fluminense beat Al Ahly 2-0, with Jhon Arias and John Kennedy each scoring a goal in the last 20 minutes to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final on Monday, setting up the showdown with the winners between European Champions League winners Manchester City and Japanese side Urawa Reds.

Al Ahly were left to rue a number of missed chances as the African champions failed to find a way past 43-year-old Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio. But he was not the only veteran to shine for the Copa Libertadores champions.

Felipe Melo, 40, became the oldest outfield player in Club World Cup history, while ex-Real Madrid captain Marcelo, 35, won the decisive penalty for his side. Former Brazil international Ganso, 34, and striker German Cano, 35, also played their part.

"Did the age of our players help? I think it absolutely did," said Fluminense manager Fernando Diniz, who is also the interim head coach of the Brazilian national team.

"Marcelo was decisive, especially for the penalty," he added.

Marcelo believes it is a mix of youth and experience that has led Fluminense to an all-time high this year as they won the Copa Libertadores for the first time.

"They call us the 40-somethings, but we aim to help the younger players with this experience," said Marcelo. "I think it is this mix of young players and experience that has helped Fluminense a lot."

The last 10 Club World Cups have been won by European sides. But if the gulf is growing between Europe's elite and the rest of the world at club level, the gap between South America's best and the rest of the world has narrowed significantly. The Copa Libertadores winners have failed to qualify for the final twice in the past three years, and Fluminense could easily have followed suit.

Al Ahly had dumped a star-studded Al-Ittihad, featuring Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Fabinho, on their home patch in the previous round. Roared on by thousands of traveling fans from just across the Red Sea, they were the more energetic and enterprising side throughout.

"We should have conceded goals; they played really well, and our goalkeeper saved us several times," Diniz said. "But we have a very strong characteristic: We never give up."

(With input from agency)