YOKOHAMA, Japan - Monterrey's dream of becoming the first team from CONCACAF to win the FIFA Club World Cup came to an end Thursday at International Stadium Yokohama.
European champion Chelsea set a date in the finals with Brazilian-side Corinthians by beating the Rayados 3-1, scoring two goals early in the second half after Juan Mata'a 17th minute opener.
Monterrey, which eased to a 3-1 win in the quarterfinals over Asian champion Ulsan Hyundai, found the English giant in sparkling form. It was the Blues third straight win in all competitions, scoring 12 goals over that stretch.
Chelsea pushed the issue straight from the opening whistle, pressuring the CONCACAF champion all over the field and pushing defenders relentlessly into the offensive end. A bold effort from central defender David Luiz went over the crossbar, an attempt that sent a definite signal of his team's intent.
Shortly afterwards, Belgian Eden Hazard ran onto a delightful pass from Luiz, but up the 21-year-old's curling shot did not miss by much.
Two subsequent corner kicks yielded nothing for Monterrey, but Chelsea finally broke through in the 17th minute.
Brazilian Oscar completed a back-heel pass to Ashley Cole, who whipped in a cross for Juan Mata to crash home and give Rafael Benitez's men a 1-0 lead.
Though Monterrey's play improved near the end of the half, the other side of the interval proved to be its undoing.
The in-form Fernando Torres scored off a deflected shot to make it 2-0 in the 46th minute, after the brilliant Hazard did all the hard work.
Two minutes later, Monterrey's Darvin Chavez inadvertently scored an own-goal off a Mata cross.
Ahead 3-0, Chelsea cruised the rest of the way.
Aldo De Nigris contributed a consolation goal for the Rayados one minute into second-half stoppage time, completing the scoreline.
Monterrey will now face Egypt's Al-Ahly on December 16 in the match for third place, while Chelsea will look to give Europe its sixth consecutive title in the competition when it meets Corinthians in the championship match later that same day.
