Corinthians end Al-Ahly’s CWC run | CNN

Corinthians end Al-Ahly’s CWC run

2 minute read
Updated 8:21 AM EST, Wed December 12, 2012
Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero opened the scoring in the Club World Cup semi-final against Egyptian side Al-Ahly with a powerful header.
Guerrero goal —
Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero opened the scoring in the Club World Cup semi-final against Egyptian side Al-Ahly with a powerful header.
AFP/Getty Images
Peru's Guerrero spent six years with German team Hamburg before joining Brazilian club Corinthians earlier this year.
Peruvian international —
Peru's Guerrero spent six years with German team Hamburg before joining Brazilian club Corinthians earlier this year.
AFP/Getty Images
Corinthians were backed by thousands of supporters, who had come armed with huge banners and flags to the Toyota stadium.
Corinthians support —
Corinthians were backed by thousands of supporters, who had come armed with huge banners and flags to the Toyota stadium.
AFP/Getty Images
Back in the Eygptian capital Cairo, Al-Ahly fans gathered to watch the semifinal. Al-Ahly qualified for the Club World Cup after winning the African Champions League despite domestic competition in Egypt being suspended following the death of more than 70 fans in February's Port Said stadium tragedy.
Cairo coffee shop —
Back in the Eygptian capital Cairo, Al-Ahly fans gathered to watch the semifinal. Al-Ahly qualified for the Club World Cup after winning the African Champions League despite domestic competition in Egypt being suspended following the death of more than 70 fans in February's Port Said stadium tragedy.
AFP/Getty Images
Corinthians defeat Al-Ahly

Story highlights

Corinthians beat Al-Ahly 1-0 in FIFA World Club Cup semifinal

Victory in Toyota puts the South American champions into Sunday's final

Egypt's Al-Ahly reached the competition despite domestic competition being suspended

Corinthians will play Chelsea or Monterrey in Sunday's final

CNN  — 

South American champions Corinthians progressed to the final of the FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Egyptian side Al-Ahly in Toyota, Japan.

The defeat ended Al-Ahly’s incredible run which had seen the Cairo team win the African Champions League despite domestic competition in Egypt being suspended following the death of more than 70 fans in February’s Port Said stadium tragedy.

The only goal of the game arrived on 29 minutes when Peru’s Jose Paolo Guerrero found the back of the net with a header following Douglas’ sublime outside-of-the-boot cross.

The 2011-12 Egyptian revolution thrust an unlikely group of young people into the country's political conscience: organized groups of soccer fans called "ultras."
The 2011-12 Egyptian revolution thrust an unlikely group of young people into the country's political conscience: organized groups of soccer fans called "ultras."
James Montague
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Al-Masry fans chase Al-Ahly players during riots that erupted after the football match.
Al-Masry fans chase Al-Ahly players during riots that erupted after the football match.
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The win means the Sao Paulo team will play European Champions Chelsea of England or Mexico’s CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey in Sunday’s Yokohama final.

Read: Deadly Egyptian riots go beyond football

Corinthians, winners of the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history earlier this year, were backed by thousands of passionate fans who had made the trip from Brazil.

Al-Ahly rarely threatened, with the club now having to make do with a place in Sunday’s third-place playoff. The seven-time African champions finished third in this competition in 2006.

Meanwhile Corinthians hoards of fans will be hoping the club can repeat their 2000 success, when a team inspired by Edilson lifted the trophy on home soil after a penalty shootout win over Brazilian rivals Vasco da Gama – a team that included the striking talents of Edmundo and Romario.

Earlier in the day Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima – beaten by Al-Ahly in the quarterfinals – secured fifth place in the competition with a 3-2 win over Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea.