How off-color Manchester City eased into Club World Cup final despite subpar performance

Not quite at the peak of their formidable prowess, Manchester City nevertheless remained unscathed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with their potential embarrassment confined to mere conjecture. 

Despite their uncharacteristic struggle in the Premier League, the star-studded English behemoth displayed undeniable superiority in the Club World Cup semifinal as they cruised past Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds with an emphatic 3-0 triumph. This commanding victory left no room for doubt that they operated on a completely different plane. 

The disparity between the European and Asian champions was substantial. Urawa, fully aware that they would be chasing after the ball for the majority of the match, exhibited commendable defensive resilience until Marius Hoibraten unfortunately redirected Matheus Nunes' cross into his own net just before halftime. 

However, the second half brought about a different narrative, with Mateo Kovacic wasting no time in adding City's second goal. The seasoned Croatian midfielder penetrated the absent Urawa defense, receiving a pass from Kyle Walker and deftly lifting his shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.  

From that point onwards, it became a matter of how many goals City would score. Ultimately, they settled for one more, as Bernardo Silva guided his shot into the right corner after Nunes' initial attempt was blocked by the ever-busy Nishikawa.

City could have and perhaps should have secured a more comfortable win as Nunes, Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb and Julian Alvarez squandered promising opportunities. Fortunately, their profligacy did not come back to haunt them, as Urawa managed only a solitary shot throughout the tie. 

The upcoming final on Friday is expected to present a more rigorous challenge for City, although Fluminense, who emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Al Ahly in the first semifinal on Monday, might struggle to cope with the English powerhouse's technical masterclass.

While this final conquest may feel somewhat routine for Pep Guardiola and his players, following their triumph in the Champions League, it is a task that must be completed. The players has three more days to rest, providing Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland with additional time for their injury recuperation. However, Guardiola confirmed that neither player will feature in the final. 

Guardiola's previous triumphs in the competition, achieved during his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, undoubtedly position him as a serious contender to add to his impressive collection. The odds of him achieving this feat appear quite favorable, especially given the current state of Fluminense's woes. The Brazilian giants languished in seventh place in their domestic league this season, far from the heated title race. 

Despite their own recent poor result, City now find themselves presented with a golden opportunity to assert their dominance on the global stage and secure their fifth prestigious honor in 2023. It's a moment that may only come once in a lifetime.