Pachuca take fifth place in shootout
Reuters - Wednesday 15 December 2010, 16:55
ABU DHABI - Mexico's Pachuca missed a
72nd-minute penalty but came from 2-0 down to beat 10-man hosts
al-Wahda 4-2 in a shootout for fifth place at the Club World Cup
on Wednesday.
Substitute striker Dario Cvitanich saved Pachuca from
ignominy with two goals in the final eight minutes to give the
CONCACAF champions a 2-2 draw. There was no extra time.
The Argentine pulled one back with a close-range volley and
equalised when he stepped over a low cross and surprised
goalkeeper Adel al-Hosani by backheeling it into the net a
minute from time.
Al-Wahda's Brazilian midfielder Hugo was asked to take the
opening penalty in the shootout again after Pachuca captain
Miguel Calero moved well off his line to save it. Hugo netted
from the second attempt.
Calero, however, saved al-Wahda's third penalty from captain
Abdulraheem Jumaa and Modibi Diarra blasted his over the bar to
hand victory to the Mexican side.
Midfielder Ismaeil Matar had put the UAE champions ahead
just before halftime when he volleyed home a cross from the
left.
Al-Wahda had central defender Hamdan al-Kamali sent off for
a foul on Colombian striker Franco Arizala in the box but
Paraguay's Edgar Benitez blasted the penalty over the bar.
The home side made the most of the let-off and Mahmood
al-Hammadi scored a fine solo goal in the 77th minute. His first
effort was parried by Calero at close quarters but the rebound
fell kindly to him and he slotted the ball in from a tight
angle.