Road To Yokohama
Both Manchester United and LDU Quito qualified for the competition at the semi-final stage, after winning their respective continental competition, the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and the 2008 Copa Libertadores.
Quito's opening game was against Mexican side Pachuca, who had defeated Egyptian club Al-Ahly 4–2 in the quarter-finals after extra time. Their semi final match was played at the National Stadium in Tokyo on 17 December 2008. LDU Quito scored two goals in the first 26 minutes, through Bieler and Bolaños, securing a place in the Club World Cup final of 2008.
Manchester United's semi-final opponents were Gamba Osaka, who had previously defeated Australian A-League premiers and Asian Champions League runners-up, Adelaide United, 1–0 to move into the second semi-final on 18 December. Vidić and Ronaldo opened the scoring in the first half, putting Manchester United ahead by two goals at half time. Yamazaki was the next to score, in the 74th minute, to bring Gamba back into the competition, but Rooney scored twice and Fletcher once, within the next five minutes to extend United's lead. Endō converted an 85th minute penalty kick and Hashimoto got a third for Gamba just minutes before the final whistle. The end result was 5–3, taking Manchester United forward to the final.
Read more about this topic: 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Final
Famous quotes containing the words road to and/or road:
“The Fitchburg Railroad touches the pond about a hundred rods south of where I dwell. I usually go to the village along its causeway, and am, as it were, related to society by this link. The men on the freight trains, who go over the whole length of the road, bow to me as to an old acquaintance, they pass me so often, and apparently they take me for an employee; and so I am. I too would fain be a track-repairer somewhere in the orbit of the earth.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Such were the first rude beginnings of a town. They spoke of the practicability of a winter road to the Moosehead Carry, which would not cost much, and would connect them with steam and staging and all the busy world. I almost doubted if the lake would be there,—the self-same lake,—preserve its form and identity, when the shores should be cleared and settled; as if these lakes and streams which explorers report never awaited the advent of the citizen.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)