DOHA (Qatar): Goalkeeper Luis Cardenas turned out to be hero for Monterrey on Saturday evening as he saved two and then scored the winning shootout spot-kick to clinch bronze for Monterrey in FIFA Club World Cup against Al Hilal.
The match had ended 2-2 after the regulation period.
Carlos Eduardo and Bafetimbi Gomis scored either side of a quick-fire double from Monterrey, with the 4-3 win on penalties seeing the Mexicans equal their best-ever performance in the tournament history.
A stagnant affair in the opening stages, Al Hilal kicked things into gear on 35 minutes when captain Eduardo powered home their first attempt on goal from Yasser Alshahrani’s measured cross.
Monterrey shook things up after the break though, having rediscovered some of their drive. First, an awkward cross and some head tennis saw Arturo Gonzalez head into an open goal past a stranded Abdullah Almuaiouf.
Maxi Meza had them briefly ahead, slotting home coolly after a swift counter, but, for the second time in the tournament, Gomis performed some super-sub heroics. Eduardo’s superb cross from the left found the Frenchman to see him convert with a diving header.
The Asian Champions League MVP almost snatched bronze in normal time, seeing his swept shot deflected onto the post. The game went to penalties and saw Cardenas step up for Monterrey’s fifth and final penalty, sealing a 4-3 triumph on spot-kicks. (Source: FIFA)
