Manish Sabharwal

The second secession


Manish Sabharwal

Chelsea stunned by Corinthians in Club World Cup final

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Paolo Guerrero

Paolo Guerrero snatched a 69th-minute winner as South American champions Corinthians stunned Chelsea to win soccer's Club World Cup on Sunday.

Corinthians, who won the first Club World Cup in 2000, caught Chelsea cold when Peru striker Guerrero headed home from close range after Danilo's shot looped up off defender Gary Cahill's boot.

Corinthians clinch Club World Cup title

Brazilian giants Corinthians won the Club World Cup in Japan here today, overcoming European champions Chelsea 1-0 in a closely-fought encounter.

Striker Guerrero got the goal as the Sao Paulo club secured their second intercontinental title -- they won the FIFA Club World Championship in 2000.

Interim Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez made three changes to the team that thrashed Mexican side Monterrey 3-1 in the semi-final -- replacing Oscar, John Obi Mikel and Cesar Azpilicueta with Frank Lampard, Ramires and Victor Moses.

Corinthians coach Tite changed just one player from the side that scraped to a 1-0 last-four win over Egypt's Al Ahly, bringing in Jorge Henrique for Douglas.

The match at the 68,000-capacity International Stadium in Yokohama was frenetic right from the first whistle with both sides creating several chances as play swung from end to end.

Chelsea came closest to taking the lead after eight minutes when Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio fumbled a Gary Cahill effort from a corner, before gathering the ball just short of the goal-line as Victor Moses looked to pounce.

On 25 minutes the referee waved away a penalty appeal by Corinthians when centre-forward Guerrero went down softly under a challenge by Cahill.

Emerson should have scored three minutes later after Cahill let the ball slip under his foot. But the Corinthians forward blazed his shot over the bar from the edge of the penalty box with just Petr Cech to beat.

Guerrero then had a shot blocked shortly afterwards before striker Fernando Torres was similarly denied at the other end.

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