Bolanos leads Deportivo Saprissa to win over Sydney FC

TOYOTA – Midfielder Christian Bolanos scored early in the second half yesterday as Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa defeated Australia’s Sydney FC 1-0 to set up a Club World Championship semi-final against Liverpool.

Balanos took a long pass from Randall Azofeifa in the 47th minute at Toyota Stadium and fired a long-range left-foot strike that beat Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton. “That was a gift to the team,” said Bolanos.”I didn’t have much time to think and knew I just had to shoot for a corner.We are off to a good start and now we enter the most important stage of the tournament.”Deportivo coach Hernan Medford said he was pleased with his team’s performance.”This was an important win for us,” said Medford.”It was a tough game.Sydney is a good team, they missed some good chances in the attacking zone and that was the difference.”The three-time CONCACAF champions got off to sluggish start but took control after the break and will face European champions Liverpool on Thursday.Sydney defender Alvin Ceccoli was given a red card in the 81st minute for a tackle on Deportivo goalkeeper Jose Porras but replays showed he barely made contact.Playing a man short, Pierre Littbarski’s side was unable to score an equalizer.”We had our chances but couldn’t score,” said Littbarski.”The first 15 minutes of the second half killed us and when we got the red card it was very difficult to come back against such an experienced team.”The relaunched club world championship features the continental club competition winners of Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America, and Central and North America.Liverpool arrived yesterday and, like Brazil’s Sao Paulo, enters the competition at the semi-final stage.Medford said he was looking forward to facing the English Premier League powerhouse.South American winners Sao Paulo will play Al Ittihad on Wednesday in the first semifinal.The Saudi Arabian club defeated Egypt’s Al Ahly 1-0 on Sunday.Al Ahly and Sydney FC play off for fifth place on Saturday.- Nampa-AP”That was a gift to the team,” said Bolanos.”I didn’t have much time to think and knew I just had to shoot for a corner.We are off to a good start and now we enter the most important stage of the tournament.”Deportivo coach Hernan Medford said he was pleased with his team’s performance.”This was an important win for us,” said Medford.”It was a tough game.Sydney is a good team, they missed some good chances in the attacking zone and that was the difference.”The three-time CONCACAF champions got off to sluggish start but took control after the break and will face European champions Liverpool on Thursday.Sydney defender Alvin Ceccoli was given a red card in the 81st minute for a tackle on Deportivo goalkeeper Jose Porras but replays showed he barely made contact.Playing a man short, Pierre Littbarski’s side was unable to score an equalizer.”We had our chances but couldn’t score,” said Littbarski.”The first 15 minutes of the second half killed us and when we got the red card it was very difficult to come back against such an experienced team.”The relaunched club world championship features the continental club competition winners of Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America, and Central and North America.Liverpool arrived yesterday and, like Brazil’s Sao Paulo, enters the competition at the semi-final stage.Medford said he was looking forward to facing the English Premier League powerhouse.South American winners Sao Paulo will play Al Ittihad on Wednesday in the first semifinal.The Saudi Arabian club defeated Egypt’s Al Ahly 1-0 on Sunday.Al Ahly and Sydney FC play off for fifth place on Saturday.- Nampa-AP