Brazil Flamengo Loses to Liverpool
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The Flamengo may have lost to Liverpool in the FIFA Club World Cup final but the Brazilian team did not disappoint.

The European champions team have concluded a successful football year by acing their first FIFA Club World Cup trophy with a 1-0 victory in extra time against Brazilian side Flamengo in the nail-biting final match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Quatar, according to an article published in BBC.

Flamengo squad had been given "a clear order to win it and come back home as heroes" in the final game described by ESPN as "by far the best Club World Cup final" since the current format was adopted in 2005 and for that, "Flamengo deserve enormous credit."

According to The Telegraph, Flamengo pushed Liverpool to their endurance limit. But it was a fellow Brazilian, Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, who left the Brazilians crestfallen. It also seemed to avenge Liverpool's 1981 defeat to the Zico-inspired Flamengo.

Liverpool could have secured their score at the first half Firmino wasted one chance, shooting over the bar. Later on, Naby Keita also struck over when well placed. At the start of the second half, Firmino's volley failed to hit the net and instead struck the post and rolled across the line.

In a dramatic conclusion to normal time, Liverpool had seen an injury-time penalty decision when Rodrigo Caio hauled down Jordan Henderson in the area. And there was the bizarre incident in the last minute of normal time, when Flamengo defender Rafinha slid through Sadio Mane and the ref pointed to the spot which may well have been outside the area which might lead to the ref giving Rafinha a red card and Mane a free kick. But when the video evidence was consulted, the Qatari referee decided it was not a foul.

Eight minutes into extra-time, when a clever long ball from Henderson cut out Rodrigo Caio, Sadio Mane swiveled to play an intelligent pass into the path of Firmino and the Liverpool striker sends keeper Diego Alves back to Rio, finding the net to secure the title of being the world's best.

"It feels great. Really great. In moments like this I struggle for the right words to describe my respect for the boys," Klopp said in an interview.

"Game after game the boys show their desire to make the next step, win the next game and make the next challenge. Winning for the first time this wonderful cup feels outstanding."

The winning goal meant a great deal Firmino who has been reportedly misused in recent times by the national team, and has not been able to show his best.

Fermino's goal was one of those moments when Flamengo's high defensive line was tripped up. Their best offense was defense, a method of play that carries obvious risks but has been a fundamental foundation of the Flamengo success story. This also explains the magical few months they have enjoyed under coach Jorge Jesus who faced considerable resistance from the local coaching fraternity when he took over. But he has convincingly won the argument - and despite the 1-0 loss to Liverpool, Flamengo fans will remain proud of their team to have gone this far in the history of FIFA Cub World Cup.

Meanwhile, after their recent win, Liverpool will return to Premier League action against second-placed Leicester City on Thursday.