Afronline – The Voice Of Africa

TP Mazembe Englebert have produced the biggest shock in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup, beating the brazilian team Porto Alegre 2-0 to become the first team from outside Europe and South America to qualify for the final.

Goals from Mulota Kubangu and Dioko Kaluyituka secured arguably the greatest ever win by an African club, humbling the Brazilian giants and leaving these Congolese underdogs just 90 minutes from becoming world champions.

It was difficult to envisage the scenes of jubilation among the Mazembe players and fans early in this match, with Rafael Sobis going close for Internacional as early as the first minute after a slick exchange of one-touch passes had carved open the Africans’ defence.

Mulota Kabangu broke the deadlock with a superb strike in the 53rd minute.

Alain Kaluyituka produced a brilliant individual effort late in the game to extend the team from DR Congo’s lead.

Goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba pulled off a series of point blank saves to keep the African champions in the game against the Copa Libertadores winners.

Not only are Mazembe the first African side to reach the Club World Cup final, they are also the first team from outside Europe and South America to go that far in the competition. They will face the winners of Wednesday’s clash between Italian and European champions Inter Milan and Asian Champions League holders Seongnam Ilhwa FC, from Korea.

Mazembe’s coach, Lamine N’Diaye, told FIFA’s website: “It’s something special for us. We are here to represent Africa, and all of Africa will be proud of our work.

“We believed in ourselves, we were confident and you could see that when we started attacking, especially at the start of the second half. We were lucky too, and don’t forget that our goalkeeper was excellent — he was like a magician!

“We have succeeded and shown that our players are of a high standard. We have achieved a great victory. It’s very good for this team and for the Congolese people, and every African should be proud of this team.”

Internacional will have to stay in Abu Dhabi to play the losers of that match-up in a play-off. Their coach Celso Roth was philosophical about defeat at the hands of Mazembe. “We controlled the game, but the best team is the one that wins,” Roth said.

“It was time for Africa to reach the final and unfortunately it has been at our expense. There’s no dishonour in that – African football is improving all the time and I don’t see anything shameful in losing to an African team.”

By Staff

Source: FIFA.com, CNN and BBC