MARRAKECH: South American champions San Lorenzo needed extra-time to see off the gallant challenge of Auckland City as they beat the New Zealand part-timers 2-1 in the Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

Auckland’s unlikely dream of facing European champions Real Madrid in Saturday’s final in Marrakech ended when substitute Mauro Matos fired San Lorenzo’s winner four minutes into extra-time.

The rank outsiders had given San Lorenzo an almighty scare when Angel Berlanga equalised in the 67th minute to cancel out Pablo Barrientos’ opener for the Argentines in first-half stoppage time.

San Lorenzo will attempt to become the first Argentine side to win the tournament since it began in its current format in 2005, although they face a near-impossible task if Wednesday’s poor display is anything to go by. But Auckland won both respect and self-respect.

“Being semi-professional doesn’t mean they’re not a good team,” Barrientos said. “They were at a very high level.”

Auckland will play CONCACAF champions Cruz Azul in the third-place match on Saturday.

Earlier, Asian champions Western Sydney Wanderers bowed out with a defeat on penalties to ES Setif in a play-off for fifth place.

The match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes before the Algerians, champions of Africa, triumphed 5-4 in the shoot-out.

Dutch midfielder Romeo Castelen gave the Australians an early lead and a Daniel Mullen own-goal levelled the scores early in the second half.

Setif looked on course to win it when Abdelmalik Ziaya made it 2-1, but a Vitor Saba free-kick a minute from the end brought Wanderers level again and took the match to penalties, in which Toufik Zerara scored the winning kick in sudden death after the Nigerian Seyi Adeleke had skied his effort.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2014