CAF Champions League holders, TP Mazembe has crashed out of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Osaka, Japan in the quarter finals showdown.
In the other quarter finals’ clash, Paulinho was the hero of the night as he headed Guangzhou Evergrande into the semi-finals of the championship in stoppage time against Club America. The game ended 2-1 in favour of the Chinese side who are the reigning AFC (Asian) Champions.
Despite Mazembe’s strong performance, it was the Japanese League champions who took the lead before half time through Shiotani’s close range tap-in on 44th minutes.
Yusuke Chajima’s low corner from the right was flicked across the six-yard box by Sho Sasaki and Shiotani was on hand to tap the ball home from close range.
The Congolese efforts to rally back into the game were undone by series of missed chances, with the Japanese also guilty of profligacy in the opposite end of the half. However, the tie swung in the favour of the host club when Kazuhiko Chiba rose highest in a crowded Mazembe box to head home from a corner kick in the 56th minutes.
The Hajime Moriyasu’s side would put a gloss to the victory when Asano nodded home Mihael Mikic’s sublime cross nine minutes from time to spark up wild celebrations amongst home fans.
Sanfrecce will now square up with River Plate of Argentina on Wednesday in the semi finals, while European champions, FC Barcelona play Guangzhou Evergrande in the other semi final match for a spot in the final.
TP Mazembe will now play Club America for the fifth place in the championship on Wednesday.
By Olisemeka Obeche