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River flows into Japan final
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SOUTH American champion River Plate survived a scare to beat Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 yesterday and reach the final of the Club World Cup.
Striker Lucas Alario’s headed goal after 72 minutes spared Argentine blushes in Osaka after several close shaves at the other end.
River will face either Barcelona or China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in Sunday’s final in Yokohama.
The Libertadores Cup holder was indebted to goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero, who produced a string of superb saves to keep out Hiroshima, the 3-0 winner over Congolese side TP Mazembe at the weekend.
Barovero sprinted from his line to deny Yusuke Minagawa in the 26th before acrobatically tipping over a stinging drive from Yusuke Chajima.
Rodrigo Mora blazed wastefully over at the start of the second half. But Alario settled River’s nerves when he nodded in from close range after Hiroshima goalkeeper Takuto Hayashi flapped at a free kick from Tabare Viudez.
River, whose supporters outnumbered the home fans by at least four to one, had plenty of early possession but struggled to create openings and looked very vulnerable to Hiroshima’s quick counter attacks led by Brazilian striker Douglas.
Sanfrecce now takes on the loser of the Barcelona-Guangzhou game in the third-place playoff, also on Sunday.
Dario Benedetto and Martin Zuniga scored first-half goals as Mexico’s Club America beat Mazembe 2-1 to finish fifth.
Benedetto put the CONCACAF champion ahead in the 19th and Zuniga widened the lead 10 minutes later when he tapped in from close range.
Rainford Kalaba pulled one back for the African champion with two minutes remaining in the first half.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has warned Barcelona to expect a battle in their semifinal.
“Barcelona are one of the best teams on the planet, everybody knows that,” the Brazilian said. “But my players have the heart and the desire to make a game of it and I expect them to show that tomorrow.”
Barcelona forward Neymar is likely to miss the clash with a groin strain but Scolari insisted the Brazilian’s absence would make little difference.
“Neymar is one of the top three players in the world,” said the former Brazil coach. “He has the potential to be the best player in the world in the next five years but Barcelona have 25 Neymars. They have quality in every position.”
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