toptop
Corinthians
shattered Chelsea's dream of becoming world champions after Paolo Guerrero's
second-half header secured a 1-0 win in the Club World Cup final in Japan.
Guerrero pounced decisively on 69 minutes to deny Rafa Benitez his first
trophy as Chelsea boss as the European champions finished with 10 men after
Gary Cahill was sent off late on.
Goalline technology has been available in the competition and it almost came
into use on 10 minutes when Cahill's prodded shot was stopped on the line by
Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio.
The first half lacked any real tempo as Corinthians did well to stifle
Chelsea, although the Brazilians did carry a threat, with Emerson wastefully
blazing over on 29 minutes after Cahill had failed to cut out Guerrero's
pass.
Guerrero wriggled free from the Chelsea defence on 35 minutes, but scuffed
his shot off target and Emerson fired the loose ball against the base of the
post from an acute angle.
Chelsea perked up in the final 10 minutes of the opening period and Fernando
Torres showed excellent control to bring down Frank Lampard's long ball
before hitting a tame volley at Cassio.
The Corinthians keeper then produced the save of the half, diving full
length to tip Victor Moses' curler around the post before making a more
routine stop from Juan Mata's dipping drive.
The second half started much livelier and Cassio was again called into
action on 54 minutes as he rushed out to thwart Eden Hazard following a fine
through ball from Mata.
Paulinho flashed a shot wide before Corinthians made the breakthrough on 69
minutes as the unmarked Guerrero headed home from close range after Danilo's
shot had looped into the air off Cahill.
Benitez threw on Oscar in search of an equaliser and the golden chance
arrived four minutes from time when the ball broke to the unmarked Torres
six yards out, but the Spanish striker could only drill his shot at Cassio's
legs.
Cahill was shown a red card in the last minute after an off-the-ball
incident involving Emerson before Torres was rightly denied the equaliser by
the offside flag after he had glanced home Oscar's ball into the box.
Teams
Corinthians Cassio, Alessandro, Paulo Andre, Chicao, Santos,
Paulinho, Danilo, Henrique, Emerson (Wallace 90), Guerrero (Martinez 86)
Subs Not Used Cesar, Danilo, Douglas, Polga, Arao, Edenilson,
Guilherme, Felipe, Giovanni, Romannho
Booked Henrique
Goals Guerrero 69
Chelsea Cech, Ivanovic (Azpilicueta 83), Cahill, Luiz, Cole,
Ramires, Lampard, Moses (Oscar 72), Mata, Hazard (Marin 87), Torres
Subs Not Used Turnbull, Hilario, Ferreira, Bertrand, Saville,
Mikel, Piazon
Booked Luiz
Sent Off Cahill
Goals
Attendance 70,000
Referee Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)