By Xinhua
Yokohama : Italian giants AC Milan defeated Urawa Reds of Japan 1-0 to make the final of the Club World Cup in here.
Clarence Seedorf scored the lone goal in the 68th minute Thursday nighet helped the team from Milan to set up a showdown with Argentine giants Boca Juniors in the title clash Sunday.
“We showed great patience and waited for our moment to strike,” Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
“We know Boca will be a different class from Urawa and we will need to play even better but we came to Japan with one aim — to take the trophy home to Italy. That’s still our goal.”
Kaka burst down the left, triggered panic in Urawa’s defence and Seedorf made a cool left-foot finish to silence a crowd of 67,000 in Yokohama.
“I think my team represented Japan well,” said Urawa coach Holger Osieck. “The difference was the individual class of Kaka, and Seedorf, with all his experience, finished it off.”
Milan won the Club World Cup’s forerunner, a one-off match between the champions of Europe and South America, in 1969, 1989 and 1990. The Italians lost to Boca on penalties in 2003.
Boca beat Tunisia’s Etoile Sahel 1-0 in Wednesday first semi-final in Tokyo.
Brazilian clubs won the first two versions of the revamped competition, which is organised by world governing body FIFA.
Sao Paulo beat Liverpool 1-0 in 2005 and Internacional stunned Barcelona by the same score last year