Action from FIFA Club World Cup fifth-place match between Club America (yellow jersey) and TP Mazembe at Osaka Nagai Stadium on December 16, 2015. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
OSAKA, Japan – Goals from a pair of 2014-15 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League stars lifted Club America to a 2-1 win over African champion TP Mazembe in the FIFA Club World Cup match for fifth place on Wednesday at Osaka Nagai Stadium.
The triumph ended the Mexican giant’s participation in the competition, which started Sunday with a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Guangzhou Evergrande.
Dario Benedetto, named the top player in the last SCCL, opened the scoring in the 18th minute, nodding home from three-yards out off Paul Aguilar’s right-sided cross. Almost immediately afterwards, Benedetto left the game with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Nine minutes later, his replacement -- Martin Zuñiga -- doubled the Aguilas’ advantage. The 22-year-old, who was selected as the 2014-15 SCCL’s best young player, swept home from in front of the net after the TP Mazembe struggled to deal with a ball played into the six-yard box by Osvaldo Martinez,.
In the 43rd minute, the Congo power halved the deficit as Rainford Kalaba struck from seven-yards out after goalkeeper Moises Muñoz saved Mbwana Samatta’s initial effort.
Club America is in contention for a spot in next year’s Club World Cup, but in order to make a speedy return, it will have to navigate the 2015-16 SCCL knockout rounds that start next year with a quarterfinal series against the Seattle Sounders (February 23, away; March 2, home).
