Substitute Alex Schalk scored a 78th-minute winner as Urawa Red Diamonds beat Leon 1-0 yesterday, to progress to the semi-final of the Club World Cup, where they will meet Manchester City.The goal came when Jose Kante played a pass into the area to Schalk, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, and after taking a touch to control with his left foot, he shot with his right past the onrushing keeper Rodolfo Cota.Leon’s chances of a comeback at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium were dealt a hammer blow six minutes later when captain William Tesillo was shown a second yellow card and the Mexican club, CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, were reduced to 10 men.This was Leon’s first appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup, while Japan’s Urawa, Asian champions, finished third in the competition in 2007 and also took part in 2017.They will face Europe’s Champions League winners Manchester City on Tuesday.The other semi-final, on Monday, will see Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense take on Al Ahly of Egypt who crushed Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad 3-1.Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland is a doubt for the Club World Cup, with the striker set to miss Manchester City’s home game against Crystal Palace today.City’s top scorer, who has scored 19 goals this season, missed last weekend’s win at Luton and the midweek victory over Red Star Belgrade with a foot injury, and has been receiving treatment in Marbella, in southern Spain.Haaland reported back at City yesterday and manager Guardiola said he would be assessed by club doctors before a decision was made on his availability.Reigning European and English champions City are due to travel to Saudi Arabia after today’s match as they seek to add the Club World Cup to last season’s trophy treble.They face a semi-final against Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday before either a final or third place play-off match three days later."Haaland arrived today (Friday) and the doctors will see him and we will see how he feels," Guardiola said yesterday."He had treatment away. Hopefully he can travel to Saudi and we will see if he is able to play in the first game or the second game, or when we come back. I don’t think he will play (against Palace) but maybe he surprises me."It is not a fracture, just stress. Sometimes players recover quickly, some longer. Day by day, week by week, we see how he feels. The moment he doesn’t have pain he will play."Palace travel to the Etihad without a win in five Premier League games, a sequence including four defeats, but Guardiola said the London side were always tough."How they defend is brilliant and they don’t need much at set-pieces with (Joachim) Andersen and the other guys," he said.
December 16, 2023 | 01:00 AM