Barcelona Win FIFA Club World Cup Title
ABU DHABI: Spanish club Barcelona won the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup title defeating the Argentine club Estudiantes de la Plata.
It was expected because they are the reigning UEFA Champions League monarchs, La Liga champions, and Copa del Rey winners. It was expected because they have the reigning Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi wearing the No. 10 jersey and scoring winning goals with regularity.
It was expected because this is their time. They are at the top of their game, playing at a level currently unequaled by any other club in the world, including their arch rival, Real Madrid featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.
It was not easy, nor was it pretty. But at the end, powered by a goal in overtime by their golden boy Messi—who chested a Daniel Alves’ cross into the goal in the 110th minute—Barca won its first ever intercontinental club title in front of 43,050 fans at the Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Messi was relentless throughout the 120 minutes of play, displaying great energy and determination, plus a few flashes of brilliance with dazzling dribbling and speed. But it was his will power that made the difference on this day. Messi scored one of those seldom seen off-the-chest goals. It was sweet justice as the winning goal featured a soccer ball that literally bounced off the heart of a true champion.
Estudiantes de la Plata had gone ahead in the 37th minute with a Mauro Boselli header as he craftily sneaked in between two Barcelona defenders.
Pedro then tied the match in the 88th minute on a triple header play. First, Juan Sebastian Veron defensively deflected the ball with his head further into Estudiantes’ penalty kick area where Barcelona defender Gerard Pique headed the ball towards teammate Pedro, who then headed the ball over the Estudiantes goalkeeper’s outstretched arms for the equalizer.
Estudiantes from Argentina never really had a chance. They looked exhausted as the second half began and from there on out, they simply defended their lead and launched a few sporadic counterattacks.
FC Barcelona lost both of their previous intercontinental finals. In 2006, Internacional of Porto Alegre lifted the trophy, and Sao Paulo was the better side in the 1992 Toyota Cup.
Barcelona Win FIFA Club World Cup Title was first posted on December 20, 2009 at 8:13 pm.
Club World Cup Final: Barcelona Vs Estudiantes
Club World Cup Final: Barcelona Vs Estudiantes, The stakes could barely be higher for the FIFA Club World Cup 2009 final between Estudiantes and Barcelona, with the Catalan giants determined to claim their sixth piece of silverware in 12 months and the Argentinian heavyweights aiming to build on their remarkable Copa Libertadores success.
Tonight’s Fifa Club World Cup final is very much a mouth-watering clash between the champion club of Europe and the champion club of South America. While the Zayed Sports City Stadium is already sold out and the majority of fans are likely to support Barcelona, the noise from the nearly 5,000 strong visiting fans from Argentina can turn this final into a dual competition — one on the pitch and one in the galleries — the latter being a whole new experience for local spectators.
Having won five trophies this year, Barcelona are eyeing an unprecedented sixth tonight and if that alone is not history, add to that the fact that the Club World Cup is the only title they have never won in over 100 years.
Club World Cup Final: Barcelona Vs Estudiantes was first posted on December 19, 2009 at 2:49 pm.
Estudiantes Into World Club Football Final
Estudiantes Into World Club Football Final, Midfielder Leandro Benitez scored twice as Estudiantes of Argentina reached the final of football’s Club World Cup with a 2-1 win over eight-man Pohang Steelers of South Korea in Abu Dhabi. Steelers had three players sent-off, including goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong, in the second half, with goalscorer Denilson taking over in goal. In this weekend’s final, South American champions Estudiantes will meet the winners of today’s semi-final between title favourites Barcelona and Atlante of Mexico.
Estudiantes Into World Club Football Final was first posted on December 16, 2009 at 4:31 pm.
