MY ACCOUNT
CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey sealed a fifth-place finish at the Club World Cup after cruising to a deserved 3-1 win over Emirati outfit Al Jazira.
Backed by a vocal group of travelling fans, the Mexican outfit took just three minutes to take the lead, when a weak shot deflected against Al Jazira defender Zayed Sultan and spun across the goalline by a matter of inches.
The Liga MX side looked determined to atone for their wasteful loss to Al Ahly last week, and doubled their advantage soon afterwards, when impressive striker Rogelio Funes Mori rounded the goalkeeper and tapped into an open net after 11 minutes.
Monterrey were utterly dominant throughout the opening period and racked up a third goal with 25 minutes gone, when captain Cesar Montes headed home from Arturo Gonzalez’s free-kick.
With the contest effectively wrapped up by the break, the Mexican side made a number of changes early on in the second half, before drawing three strong saves from Al Jazira shot-stopper and captain Ali Khaseif without adding a fourth goal.
Although Monterrey certainly warranted their victory, racking up 18 attempts at goal to their opponents’ six, the Emirati champions did claim a late consolation goal, when Brazilian winger Bruno De Oliveira raced onto a low cross to tap home in stoppage time.
