Club America's Silvio Romero (pictured) celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal in a FIFA Club World Cup second-round match against Jeonbuk Hyundai on December 11, 2016 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
OSAKA, Japan – Silvio Romero netted a brace and Club America earned a meeting in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup (FCWC) semifinals with UEFA Champions League champion Real Madrid, rallying from a one-goal deficit to defeat Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Hyundai on Sunday at Suita City Football Stadium.
With the second-round win, the Aguilas improved to 3W-0D-3L in six all-time FCWC matches. One of those other victories also came against the same Jeonbuk Hyundai side (1-0), remarkably on the same day 10 years ago.
Kim Bokyung gave the Asian champion a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute, when he slotted home with his left foot from 12-yards out off Lee Jaesung’s low cross from the left side of the box.
Eight minutes later, Romero nearly equalized for the seven-time CONCACAF champion, but his right-footed effort from 31 yards crashed off the crossbar.
Romero wouldn’t miss in the 58th minute as his glanced header directed Michael Arroyo’s diagonal, left-sided cross into the left side of the net.
After Jeonbuk goalkeeper Hong Jungnam denied Oribe Peralta from close range, Romero struck for the game-winner in the 74th minute. A left-sided corner kick by Arroyo wasn’t cleared and fell to Romero in the right side of the box. The Argentinean’s right-footed volley from 15-yards out took a slight deflection off defender Kim Shinwook, before sneaking inside the right post.
It will be Club America’s second trip to the FCWC semifinals and first since it fell 4-0 to Barcelona in 2006.
