FIFA Club World Cup: Barcelona Bound Unless Estudiantes Takes Chances

Estudiantes’ 2-1 win over Pohang Steelers has booked the Argentine club a place in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, but their performance against the Asian champions suggest they will merely be there to make up the numbers if a potential match-up with FC Barcelona comes to fruition.

It only took a few seconds of the semi-final between Estudiantes and Pohang Steelers to realise the Copa Libertadores champions would dictate play for the majority of the contest.

That was because Italian referee Roberto Rosetti made his presence felt immediately after the start of play thanks to a foul on Benitez.

Whilst the ensuing free kick failed to cause any panic to the Steelers defense, it did not take long for Estudiantes to assert their dominance.

The Argentine club dominated possession for the opening twenty minutes and had various opportunities to, perhaps, seal their passage to the final before the end of the first half.

Estudiantes’ inaccuracy in front of goal, however, came back to haunt them, as Pohang started dictating their own terms much to the frustration of manager Sabella.

Despite the Steelers inability to produce the killer pass, the Asian champions caused enough concern against an opponent which failed to take the initiative when given the chance.

Thankfully for the South Americans, their apparent dominance early in the first half was eventually rewarded thanks to a Benetiz free kick which made its way to the back of the net after the slightest of touches from forward Boselli.

Although the goal will not be remembered for its quality, it provided Estudiantes with a second wind which allowed them to break the game wide open minutes into the second half.

The Libertadores champions found themselves up two-nil thanks to a neat counter attacking play which culminated in Benetiz scoring the goal which eventually sealed his side’s passage to the final.

In a match littered with disciplinary action, the lack of clinical play by Estudiantes does not bode well for a potential final meeting with Champions League winners FC Barcelona.

Indeed Barcelona are a club now bestowed with arguably the finest midfield the world game has to offer, coupled with a forward line that needs no introduction in terms of goal scoring prowess.

No doubt key figure Juan Sebastian Veron will have to wind back the clock to produce the football necessary to disrupt Barcelona’s bid for a maiden FIFA Club World Cup title.

Players such as Boselli, Benetiz, and Clement Rodriguez will also have to present themselves in attack on a regular basis if Estudiantes are to pose any danger to a well marshalled Barcelona defence.

With the first match out of the way however, Estudiantes will improve on their semi-final performance and should cause Barcelona a few headaches.

The key, however, involves whether or not the Argentine club can convert their chances into the numerous goals needed to cause the upset against their potential heavyweight rivals.

No doubt the Libertadores champions will have their eyes firmly placed on Barcelona’s match against Atlante, determined to find a way to upset the La Liga giants if their Mexican counterparts fail to do so.