Soccer-Flamengo blame Club World Cup loss on refereeing, coach says

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi Final - Flamengo v Al Hilal - Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier, Morocco - February 7, 2023 Flamengo's Pedro scores their second goal REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

TANGIER (Reuters) - Flamengo manager Vitor Pereira blamed his side's stunning 3-2 loss to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in Club World Cup semi-final on Tuesday on the refereeing, which according to the Portuguese manager, was one sided.

Al Hilal won thanks to two penalties from Salem Al Dawsari and a close-range strike from Luciano Vietto in a second-half in which Flamengo were down to 10 men after midfielder Gerson conceded the second penalty and was sent off in first-half stoppage time.