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Played
December 12, 2012 10:30 AM GMT
Toyota Stadium — Toyota
Referee:‬ M. Rodríguez‎
Attendance:‬ 31417‎
 
 
Top of the Match
Paolo Guerrero
Paolo Guerrero
Corinthians
Mohammed Abu Trika
Mohammed Abu Trika
Al-Ahly SC
Flop of the Match
Al-Sayed Hamdy
Al-Sayed Hamdy
Al-Ahly SC
Tite
Tite
Corinthians

Al-Ahly 0-1 Corinthians: Guerrero sends Brazilians through to Club World Cup final

The former Bayern Munich striker netted for the Copa Libertadores champions to secure them a place in Sunday's showpiece fixture in Yokohama at the expense of El-Abry's side

By Charlie Scott

Al-Ahly x Corinthians, Club World Cup 2012 - Jose Paolo Guerrero
Getty Images
A well-taken headed goal from Paulo Guerrero was enough to send Corinthians into the final of the Club World Cup, as they defeated Al-Ahly 1-0 in the semi-final at the Toyota Stadium in Japan.

The Brazilian side took a deserved 1-0 lead when the forward headed Douglas' inch-perfect cross past opposing goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy in the first half, and despite their African opponents improving after the break, an equalising goal never materialised.

Corinthians, making their first appearance in the tournament since winning the inaugural edition 12 years ago, had a reported 20,000 fans in the stadium, and it certainly sounded like an accurate figure as Timao's supporters spurred them on from kick-off.

It was the Copa Libertadores champions that fashioned the first shooting opportunity of the match; their attacking midfielder Douglas flashing a half volley just wide from a difficult position outside the Al-Ahly penalty area in the ninth minute.

That Douglas chance seemed to spark Al-Ahly into life as, after nearly going behind, they immediately went up the other end and threatened to break the deadlock themselves. Ramy Rabia was the player who came close, as his header from a fine Walid Soliman cross drifted off target.

Corinthians' first-half dominance finally paid off in the 30th minute when they went 1-0 up through Guerrero. The former Bayern Munich man headed Tite's side into the lead after connecting well with an audacious cross from the outside of Douglas' left boot.

The African champions were without their captain Hossam Ghaly after he limped off during their quarter-final victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Saturday and despite the influential Mohamed Aboutrika taking his place in that game and scoring the winner, the 34-year-old was named on the bench this time around.

As Al-Ahly continued to struggle to create chances after the break, their coach Hossam El-Badry introduced Aboutrika in an attempt to revive his team and it had an instant impact on their attacking play.

Their best spell of the game soon followed, and it culminated with decent efforts from Rabia, Soliman and right-back Ahmed Fathy narrowly failing to find the back of the net.

Aboutrika's influence on the game grew in the second half, but his probing play failed to inspire an Al-Ahly equaliser, as the Brazilians held out for a narrow 1-0 victory.

Corinthians will now face the winner of the semi-final between Chelsea and Monterrey, with the final itself being held at the International Stadium in Yokohama on December 16.


Al-Ahly SC

1
ekramy
Goalkeeper
65′
2.50
-
Rami Hisham
Midfielder
3.00
6
Wael Gomaa
Defender
2.50
-
Ahmed Shedid
Defender
3.00
23
mohammad naguib
Defender
2.50
-
Ahmed Fathy
Defender
2.50
11
Waleed Soliman
Midfielder
3.00
-
Abdullah Said
Striker
55′
2.00
25
ashour
Midfielder
3.50
22
Gedo
Striker
80′
2.00
-
1.50

Corinthians

3.50
12
Cássio
Goalkeeper
2.50
2
Alessandro
Defender
2.50
3
Chicão
Defender
3.00
6
Fábio Santos
Midfielder
2.50
13
3.00
5
Ralf
Midfielder
3.50
8
Paulinho
Midfielder
3.00
10
Douglas
Midfielder
30′ 80′
2.50
20
Danilo
Midfielder
3.50
9
2.50
11
Émerson
Striker
75′

Substitutes

13
 - 
-
Abou ALsood
Goalkeeper
65′
3.00
-
samir
Defender
 - 
4
 - 
17
 - 
-
Shehab Ahmed
Midfielder
 - 
8
 - 
14
Hossam Ghaly
Midfielder
 - 
22
3.00
-
Mahmoud Hassan
Midfielder
 - 
9
 - 
31
 - 

Substitutes

 - 
1
Julio César
Goalkeeper
 - 
22
 - 
-
Wallace
Defender
 - 
4
Polga
Defender
 - 
15
 - 
28
 - 
17
Willian Souza
Midfielder
 - 
21
Edenilson
Midfielder
 - 
7
 - 
23
 - 
29
Giovanni
Striker
3.00
31
Romarinho
Striker
75′

Coach/Manager

-
 - 

Coach/Manager

 - 
-
Tite
Coach
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Match For Fifth Place
Times In GMT
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
César Fabián Delgado César Fabián Delgado
Midfielder
Monterrey
3 0
Hisato Sato Hisato Sato
Striker
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
3 0
Paolo Guerrero Paolo Guerrero
Striker
Corinthians
2 0
J. Corona J. Corona
Midfielder
Monterrey
2 0
Fernando Torres Fernando Torres
Striker
Chelsea
1 0