Reysol reach Club World Cup semi-finals
Reuters - Sunday 11 December 2011, 13:36
Japanese champions
Kashiwa Reysol upset Mexico's Monterrey 4-3 in a penalty
shootout on Sunday to set up a Club World Cup semi-final against
Brazil's Santos.
Locked at 1-1 after extra-time, Ryohei Hayashi smashed home
the deciding spot-kick in Toyota to send Reysol through to face
the South American Libertadores Cup holders on Wednesday.
Brazilian striker Leandro Domingues gave Reysol the lead
after 53 minutes, the J-League player of the year drilling a
superb right-foot volley into the top corner.
It took Monterrey only five minutes to equalise, however,
Chile striker Humberto Suazo ghosting into space at the far post
to ram home a cross from Cesar Delgado.
Suazo had earlier rattled the post with a left-foot drive
and was a constant menace but Reysol hung on to become the third
J-League club to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals.
Qatar's Al Sadd beat Esperance of Tunisia 2-1 in the day's
first quarter-final and will face tournament favourites
Barcelona in Yokohama on December 15.
The final takes place in Yokohama on December 18.