At the end of the quarter final matches, it was confirmed that all Asian representative had made it to the semi final stage. In the first quarter final between Club America and Guangzhou, it ended 2-1 while the second encounter saw Host and local league champions, Sanfreece Hiroshima thrashing African Champions, TP Mazembe 3-0When Paulinho headed Guangzhou Evergrande into the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015 in stoppage time of their encounter with Club America, the stadium erupted in cheers. Shortly after, as the Brazilian was again buried under a pile of his ecstatic team-mates when the whistle blew to confirm the Chinese side’s 2-1 win, the secret hero of the evening was beginning his own celebrations in the AFC Champions League winners’ penalty area.
Over the preceding 90 minutes, goalkeeper Li Shuai had ensured that Guangzhou stayed in the game. By making a string of impressive saves, the Chinese shot-stopper prevented the Mexicans from adding a second goal to their 55th-minute opener, thus helping Evergrande to emerge victorious from a dramatic encounter at the Osaka Nagai Stadium.
“He’s our No1 and possesses all the qualities you need in a top-quality goalkeeper,” Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said in tribute to the imposing 1.93-metre figure between the posts. “Li is a great keeper with tremendous experience and he proved that in front of the world this evening.”
While clearly flattered by this considerable compliment, the Asian champions’ modest custodian instead preferred to pass the praise on to this team-mates. “I’m obviously very happy; it’s a great feeling,” Li Shuai explained in an interview with FIFA.com, “but the entire side played their part in this success. I can only thank the lads in front of me for the way they performed.” Guangzhou turned the match decisively in their favour in the closing stages of the game through a combination of limitless energy and irrepressible desire, equalising through Zheng Long after 80 minutes before Paulinho wrapped things up for the Chinese side late on.
As a result,
it is now the Chinese rather than the Mexicans who face a semi-final
clash with Barcelona and their array of international superstars, headed
by Lionel Messi. Li Shuai is looking ahead to his latest challenge with
confidence rather than fear. “I can’t wait for this game and I’ll just
enjoy it,” he said, before adding: “Now we want to go all the way to the
final.” The self-confessed Peter Schmeichel fan is well aware that he may play a key role in pulling off another shock, explaining: “As a goalkeeper, you have the chance to become a hero.” There is no doubt that Evergrande’s upcoming showdown with the European treble-winners will provide him with just such an opportunity.
As
the captain of TP Mazembe, Joel Kimwaki is not accustomed to losing.
The fact that victory has become a habit for the African club is
something the towering defender learned quickly upon his arrival in
2010.
The consistent level of success he has experienced since then runs counter to the comprehensive nature of the 3-0 defeat he and his team-mates suffered at the hands of Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015.
Despite having every right to be annoyed or aggrieved, it was a disappointed yet philosophical and smiling Kimwaki who spoke to FIFA.com outside the changing rooms of Osaka Nagai Stadium.
“These things happen. Losing is part of the game,” he said calmly and lucidly. “We were a little careless. And yet our coach had stressed two key points before the match: we were to stay focused and pay attention. But we didn’t manage to do either of those things.”
It was certainly a fair summary by the tough-tackling centre-back. The first two Sanfrecce goals both stemmed from corners where the Congolese side’s marking left a lot to be desired, with the second one conceded by goalkeeper Richard Boateng demonstrating a particular lack of defensive pressure.
The third goal, which came from a counter-attack, only served to confirm that Mazembe had suffered a rather bad day at the office.
The result was difficult to accept for Kimwaki in particular, who was part of the team that made history by reaching the final in 2010. Paradoxically, that feat – a first for a club from outside Europe or South America – may have played a role in the Africans’ undoing, such was the high level of expectation among their loyal support.
The consistent level of success he has experienced since then runs counter to the comprehensive nature of the 3-0 defeat he and his team-mates suffered at the hands of Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015.
Despite having every right to be annoyed or aggrieved, it was a disappointed yet philosophical and smiling Kimwaki who spoke to FIFA.com outside the changing rooms of Osaka Nagai Stadium.
“These things happen. Losing is part of the game,” he said calmly and lucidly. “We were a little careless. And yet our coach had stressed two key points before the match: we were to stay focused and pay attention. But we didn’t manage to do either of those things.”
It was certainly a fair summary by the tough-tackling centre-back. The first two Sanfrecce goals both stemmed from corners where the Congolese side’s marking left a lot to be desired, with the second one conceded by goalkeeper Richard Boateng demonstrating a particular lack of defensive pressure.
The third goal, which came from a counter-attack, only served to confirm that Mazembe had suffered a rather bad day at the office.
The result was difficult to accept for Kimwaki in particular, who was part of the team that made history by reaching the final in 2010. Paradoxically, that feat – a first for a club from outside Europe or South America – may have played a role in the Africans’ undoing, such was the high level of expectation among their loyal support.
A
model professional, the 29-year-old, who was part of the Congo DR squad
that finished third at the 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations and who
recently won the CAF Champions League for the second time, has the
necessary experience and common sense to step back and judge his and his
team’s general performances without dwelling on one bad result. “We’ve achieved some great things this year, and it’s important to bear that in mind,” he said. “I’ve performed well all season and I need to maintain that form. I’m still ready to serve Mazembe and my national team.”
The Kinshasa native, who is the only Congo DR representative in Mazembe coach Patrice Carteron’s starting XI, was also recently appointed captain of said national team. “That came down to my hard work and discipline,” he said. And while those two ingredients may have been lacking in the club’s loss to Sanfrecce, Kimwaki’s leadership qualities should ensure that they come bouncing back in style.
Sanfreece Hiroshima hereby face River plate of Argentina in the other semi final.
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