Barcelona Battles Mexican Atlante in Club World Cup

Abu Dhabi, December 16 (QNA) - The Spanish Barcelona football team emption to get the sixth title in 2009 begins Wednesday when they take on Mexican football team Atlante in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Last season Barcelona became the first La Liga team to win the treble of league, cup and European Cup, and Pep Guardiola's team added two further trophies at the start of this campaign, winning the European and Spanish Super Cups.

Two more victories in the United Arab Emirates this week would give the Catalan club the set, with the Mexican side providing the first hurdle today, and then their opponents in the final will be the Copa Libertadores champions Estudiantes who beat AFC Champions League winners Pohang Steelers 2-1 on Monday.

Both the goals for Estudiantes were scored by Leandro Benitez while Pohang's Brazilian star Denilson reduced the deficit for the Korean side. Three Pohang players - Hwang Jae-won, Kim Jae-sung and Shin Hwa-yong - received red cards

"I m proud of my players," said Pohang coach Sergio Farias. "We showed that we could match the South American champions, and we were extremely unlucky to lose.

"We had three players sent off. It could have been a different story."

After surviving an early attempt on goal, Pohang could have taken the lead when Shin Hyung-min s cross was almost met by No Byung-jun with the Estudiantes goalkeeper goalkeeper completely out of position. But in the end the ball flew over the post.

Pohang had two more quick chances denied - Denilson s sharp, cutting cross and Kim Jung-kyum's 20-yard strike that was collected by the goalie.

In first-half injury time, Benitez fired a free kick that took excessive curl and zoomed into the Pohang net.

The start of the final half saw an Estudiantes defender stretching his left leg to clear a Denilson shot. Benitez then doubled the Argentinean side's lead in the 53rd minute after beating Shin Hwa-yong to the ball.

Minutes later, Pohang lost captain Hwang Jae-won for a second bookable offence.

Denilson reduced the deficit against the run of play in the 71st minute with a left-footed shot.Justify Full

The Korean club saw their strength further reduced a minute later when Kim Jae-sung received his marching orders before Shin Hwa-yong joined him for an early shower. Pohang were forced to assign goalkeeping duties to Denilson and the battle was well and truly lost.

Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella said: "We re very pleased to have reached the final. Credit to Pohang, they did well. The last 20 minutes of the first half was very even, and so was the start of the second half.

"But our second goal gave us the psychological advantage and Pohang became frustrated after that."(QNA)

Source: http://www.qnaol.net

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