DBasia.news – Monterrey will challenge Liverpool in the Club World Cup semifinals after the Mexican club won 3-2 over Qatari club, Al Sadd.
Leonel Vangioni gave Monterrey the lead in the 23rd minute with a long-range shot.
They then went 2-0 up at halftime, after captain Al Sadd made a mistake when passing the ball, and the ball was won by Rogelio Funes Mori to double the lead.
Algerian international player, Baghdad Bounedjah, reduced Al Sadd’s backward header with a header in the 60th minute.
The situation did not last long as in the 77th minute Monterrey restored the advantage of his two goals through Carlos Rodriguez’s kick.
Abdelkarim Hassan’s long-range strike which produced a goal in the 90th minute didn’t mean much other than a consolation goal for Al Sadd, who was coached by former Barcelona star, Xavi.
In another quarterfinal match played earlier, Saudi Arabian club, Al Hilal, ousted African champions, Esperance de Tunis, with a narrow 1-0 victory.
Veteran striker, Bafetimbi Gomis, appeared as a substitute and scored a goal when Al Hilal secured the victory over the Tunisian club.
Gomis replaced Gustavo Cuellar in the 65th minute, and contributed a goal eight minutes later. Al Hilal will face South American champion, Flamengo.