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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Five-star Bayern win Club World Cup, Atletico Mineiro steal 3rd place

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Five-star Bayern win Club World Cup
European champions Bayern Munich claimed their fifth title of 2013 as they lifted the Club World Cup with a 2-0 win over Raja Casablanca in Saturday's final.

The Bavarian giants had few problems against Moroccan champions Raja as Bayern grabbed both goals inside the opening 22 minutes from Brazil centre-back Dante, then midfielder Thiago.

Even without injured Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger and Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, Guardiola's Bayern had too much firepower for Raja at the 45,000 sell-out Marrakech Stadium.

Just as they had done in Wednesday's 3-0 semi-final win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, the Germans dominated throughout.

Bayern took the lead after only seven minutes when Germany star Jerome Boateng found his centre-back partner Dante onside with the goal at his mercy.

The Raja offside trap had failed and with his second touch, Dante hit the back of the net.

Munich doubled their lead on 22 minutes when left-back David Alaba won the ball, then laid it back for Thiago, who blasted his shot into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the area.

Having become the first German team to win the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup titles last season, Bayern now add the Club World Cup to the UEFA Super Cup title they won in August.

This was the third time Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has won the Club World Cup after lifting the trophy with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

Bayern winger Franck Ribery was voted player of the tournament. The France winger must wait until January 13 to find out if he has beaten Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Ballon d'Or.

Atletico Mineiro take Club World Cup third
Atletico Mineiro had Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho sent-off but still struck in the last minute to snatch third place at the Club World Cup with a 3-2 win over Guangzhou Evergrande on Saturday.

Atletico Mineiro were in front after just two minutes when Diego Tardelli found the net after a corner from Ronaldinho.

But the Asian champions stunned the Brazilians with two goals in six minutes.

Muriqui, who played seven games at Atletico on loan in 2010, levelled in the ninth minute before compatriot Elkeson rattled the crossbar.

It was another South American, Argentine import Conca who put the Chinese side 2-1 up on the 15-minute mark from the penalty spot after Gao Lin had been upended in the area.

It was an emotional strike for Conca who was playing his final match for the club having already agreed to return to Fluminense for next season.

However, Ronaldinho, who had curled in a memorable free-kick in his side's shock semi-final loss to Raja Casablanca, repeated the trick on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-2.

His pinpoint free-kick, awarded after Kim Young-Gwon had been penalised for a foul, left Guangzhou goalkeeper Li Shuai completely flat-footed.

The Brazilian, who now has 22 career goals in FIFA competitions, was then red-carded for his lunge at Zhao.

But Luan, who had replaced Jo on the hour mark, had the final say, burying the winner in the first minute of time added on.

The victory was a fitting farewell for coach Cuca who will take over at Guangzhou's Chinese rivals Shandong Luneng next year.

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