Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Rabat: Nine-man Western Sydney Wanderers have been eliminated from the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup after losing 3-1 to Cruz Azul in Saturday’s quarter-final.
In a game severely hampered by waterlogged conditions at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Western Sydney looked to have taken the lead five minutes before half-time when Labinot Haliti volleyed home Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s headed pass, only for the strike to be disallowed by referee Noumandiez Doue.
However, the reigning AFC Champions League champions duly broke the deadlock after 65 minutes when Iacopo La Rocca pounced on a loose ball and proceeded to send a blistering 30-yard drive into the bottom corner.
A mere nine minutes later, Western Sydney were dealt a huge blow when they were reduced to ten men after Matthew Spiranovic was issued his marching orders after picking up a second caution for handball.
Cruz Azul subsequently drew level in the 89th minute to force extra-time, Gerardo Torrado coolly sending Ante Covic the wrong way from the penalty spot, after Shannon Cole had tripped Marco Fabian inside the area.
Western Sydney’s woes were compounded in the 102nd minute when Topor-Stanley cynically held back Mariano Pavone near the halfway line and was also sent off for a second bookable offence.
With a two-man advantage, the initiative was now firmly with the Mexican giants and they took the lead six minutes later when Pavone fired home on the rebound, after Ismael Valadez’s initial effort had been saved by Covic.
And two minutes before the end of extra-time, Cruz Azul were awarded another spot-kick when Mateo Poljak was adjudged to have handled Alejandro Vela’s cross, paving the way for Torrado to lash home his second of the evening and seal his side’s progress to the last four, where they will meet ten-time European champions Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Western Sydney will now take on Algerian outfit ES Setif in the fifth place play-off next Wednesday.
Photo: AFP