AC Milan of Italy defeated Urawa Reds of Japan 1-0 to make the
final of the Club World Cup in Yokohama, Japan on Thursday.
AC Milan's Kaka (C) breaks
through during the semifinal against Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds at
the FIFA Club World Cup 2007 in the International Stadium Yokohama
in Yokohama, Japan, December 13, 2007. AC Milan won 1-0 and
advanced into the final.
Clarence Seedorf scored the lone goal in the 68th minute to set
up a showdown with Argentine giants Boca Juniors in Sunday's
tournament final.
"We showed great patience and waited for our moment to strike,"
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
"We know Boca will be a different class from Urawa and we will
need to play even better but we came to Japan with one aim -- to
take the trophy home to Italy. That's still our goal."
Italian AC Milan's Alberto
Gilardino (L) competes during the semifinal against Japan's Urawa
Red Diamonds at the FIFA Club World Cup 2007 in the International
Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, December 13, 2007. AC Milan
won 1-0 and advanced into the final.
Kaka burst down the left, triggered panic in Urawa's defense and
Seedorf made a cool left-foot finish to silence a crowd of 67,000
in Yokohama.
"I think my team represented Japan well," said Urawa coach
Holger Osieck. "The difference was the individual class of Kaka,
and Seedorf, with all his experience, finished it off."
Milan won the Club World Cup's forerunner, a one-off match
between the champions of Europe and South America, in 1969, 1989
and 1990. The Italians lost to Boca on penalties in 2003.
Boca beat Tunisia's Etoile Sahel 1-0 in Wednesday first
semi-final in Tokyo.
Brazilian clubs won the first two versions of the revamped
competition which is organized by world governing body FIFA.
Sao Paulo beat Liverpool 1-0 in 2005 and International stunned
Barcelona by the same score last year.
Italian AC Milan's Kaka
(front) drives the ball during the semifinal against Japan's Urawa
Red Diamonds at the FIFA Club World Cup 2007 in the International
Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, December 13, 2007.
Italian AC Milan's Kaka
gestures to the audience after the semifinal against Japan's Urawa
Red Diamonds at the FIFA Club World Cup 2007 in the International
Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, December 13, 2007. AC Milan
won 1-0 and advanced into the final.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2007)
