Seongnam finishes 4th in Abu Dhabi

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong saves a ball against Brazil’s Internacional star Tinga during their Club World Cup football match at Zayed Sport City in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. - Seongnam Ilhwa finished fourth at the FIFA Club World Cup after being defeated 4-2 by Internacional of Brazil in a third-place playoff in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The South American champion took a 4-0 lead early in the second half against the 10-man Asian champion club thanks to two goals from striker Alecsandro Barbosa Felisbino.

But Seongnam’s Colombian-born Mauricio Molina scored twice at the end to make the score 4-2.

This was the second time in a row a South Korean club reached the semifinals at the FIFA Club World Cup, as the Pohang Steelers finished fourth at the tournament last year.

Meanwhile, European champions Inter Milan lifted the Club World Cup on Saturday after a 3-0 win in the Abu Dhabi final over African champions TP Mazembe.

The Italians largely dominated the proceedings and had the match in their pockets once Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto’o bagged goals in quick-fire succession inside the opening 20 minutes at Zayed Sports City.

Frenchman Jonathan Biabiany slid home a third to add further gloss in the closing stages as Inter succeeded last year’s winners Barcelona and added to Intercontinental Cup triumphs in 1964 and 1965 - a previous incarnation of the now expanded event.

The win meant that Massimo Moratti, Inter’s chairman, emulated his father Angelo, who held the post at the time of those two earlier successes.

Mazembe, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, had already made history by becoming the first African team to reach the final after a 2-0 upset win over Copa Libertadores champions Internacional of Brazil in the semifinals - the biggest surprise in the 10-year history of the event.

Wily Inter proved a bridge too far as the experienced Italians struck early and then soaked up what limited and sporadic pressure the Africans were able to produce thereafter.

Inter had gone into the game hot favorites despite the injury absence of Dutch flier Wesley Sneijder - only the latest in a spate of injuries the Milanese have suffered this season, which had led to pressure on Inter coach Rafael Benitez as he attempts to replicate the success of the club from last season under Jose Mourinho.

Adding the Club World Cup trophy to the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup titles masterminded by his predecessor will relieve some of that pressure on the former Liverpool boss as he looks to lift Inter in the second half of the season from their current seventh spot in Serie A.

Benitez, embraced by Moratti at the end, was a happy man having landed his first piece of silverware since leaving Anfield - but also struck a cautious note.

“My relationship with the chairman is good - but I ask the club for help and respect - they did not come up with the goods after what they told me in the summer about [new] signings, and so it’s not easy,” said the Spaniard in allusion to his desire to strengthen his injury-ravaged squad.

But he insisted his overall relationship with the club was solid.

Mazembe has become a major force in the African game on the back of five league title wins in the last decade and also the last two editions of the African Champions League.

But Inter proved a class above as Pandev fired home a neat left-footed poke after Eto’o helped tee him up in the 13th minute. Cameroon star Eto’o then claimed his own piece of the limelight as he drove in an instinctive right-foot drive on the turn after Champions League final hero Diego Milito had combined with Esteban Cambiasso.

Milito should have made it three after beating the offside trap, but drove his shot against the feet of onrushing keeper Muteba Kidiaba, who had earlier led the customary goal-line pre-match prayer session for his teammates.

Brazilian defender Maicon went on the attack on the hour as Inter pressed for a third in style reminiscent of his World Cup goal-scoring showcase against North Korea - but could only hit the outside of the post as the Europeans continued to look comfortable.

Eto’o then tried to go it alone down the left rather than look for either substitute Stankovic or Milito, but he ran into a forest of defenders and was hustled out of possession.

Again, Inter came forward and Maicon whipped over a fine cross from the right in the 73rd minute, but Pandev could not quite twist his head to make sufficient contact.

Biabiany, on for Milito, bundled home the third with five minutes to go after a Stankovic chip through the middle, to ensure that a European team would take the title for the fourth consecutive time.

Yonhap, AFP