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Dec 13, 2012 at 10.30am UK
 
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Live Commentary: Monterrey 1-3 Chelsea - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live updates from Chelsea's semi-final against Monterrey in the Club World Cup in Japan.
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Chelsea secured their place in the Club World Cup final with a convincing 3-1 win over Monterrey.

The European champions looked comfortable in their match against the CONCACAF champions league winners.

The Premier League side will face Brazilian team Corinthians in Sunday's showpiece, with members of the Sao Paulo side watching today's game from the stands.

Read how the action unfolded below:


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Let's take a look at the teams...

Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Luiz, Mikel, Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Torres

Orozco, Perez, Mier, Basanta, Chavez, Ayovi, Meza, Cardozo, Delgado, Corona, De Nigris

Monterrey are in the Club World Cup for the second year in a row, having won the CONCACAF Champions League for the last two seasons. Last year, they finished fifth in the tournament, which was won by Barcelona.

The Mexicans are currently fifth in the Liga MX table, and have shown mixed form of late.

Chelsea's strong starting XI suggests they're taking this tournament seriously. Having become the first champions of Europe to be knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages, they'll be looking to restore some pride in Japan.

Chelsea are without their club captain John Terry for the whole tournament. Terry didn't travel to Japan due to the knee injury he sustained against Liverpool in the Premier League last month. Keeper Petr Cech takes the captain's armband for today's game.

It looks like a fair few Chelsea fans have made the journey to Japan. There's a decent display of English and British flags behind one of the goals.

Monterrey's coach Victor Vucetich believes that his side can win the match. After their quarter-final win, he told BBC Sport: "If we can play like we did [against Ulsan Hyundai] against Chelsea we will have a chance.

"Last year we lost in the quarter-finals here because we didn't have time to prepare. This year we had plenty of time to get ready for this match."


Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez, who took Liverpool to the final of the 2005 tournament, said: "The team still can improve, so it's a question of time. Training sessions before games, you have just two or three sessions and you cannot improve everything that you want to improve.

"But we will have more time, maybe, in Japan, three days in the hotel. We can talk, we can analyse more things and little by little, they will get to the level at which we want to see them."


David Luiz, who moves into midfield for Chelsea, has described playing in this tournament as "a dream". The Sao Paulo-born player would face hometown side Corinthians if Chelsea progress.

The teams are walking onto the pitch.

The 72,000-seater stadium is far from full, but there's a good bit of noise coming from the crowd.

Monterrey get the game underway.

Chelsea get possession of the ball, and Juan Mata looks to set up Hazard, but the effort is blocked.

Chelsea seem to have more control of the ball in the opening minutes. Monterrey are running at Chelsea, but are struggling to take the ball away from the European champions.

David Luiz, in a more attacking role than he is usually placed in, takes a shot from outside the penalty area. It's high, but not by much.

Fernando Torres looks to get involved, chasing the ball down the left-hand side, but Monterrey force the ball away from the Spaniard.

Luiz creates a chance for Hazard, whose curling shot bobbles inches wide. Chelsea are well on top here.

First effort for Monterrey, as they charge towards the Chelsea goal on the counter, but a poor finish gives Cech an easy first save of the game.

Hazard crosses the ball to Oscar in the centre of the box, but the Brazilian is unable to control the cross, and Monterrey clear.

Cesar Delgado, who scored two goals in Monterrey's 3-1 win in the quarters, takes his first shot of the game, which is deflected wide to give the Mexicans a corner.

The corner was headed out by Chelsea to give Monterrey a second corner, which Ivanovic cleared easily.

Corner at the other end after a Chelsea break. Mata takes the corner but Ivanovic heads over.

Players from Corinthians are in the crowd watching the match. They'll play the winner of this game on Sunday.

GOAL! JUAN MATA

Monterrey gave Mata both time and space from the edge of the penalty area, Mata with a fantastic finish to give Chelsea the lead.

Chelsea had been starting to give their opponents more time on the ball, but are now fully in control of the game.

Chelsea win a free kick just outside the penalty area. Mata takes, and Ivanovic gets a head to the ball, but his effort is high, for the second time in the game.

Chelsea's substitutes are keeping themselves warm by wearing blankets. It's just above freezing at the ground.

Ashley Cole takes a long-range shot. It's a comfortable save for the Monterrey keeper, but it shows Chelsea are in full-on attack mode.

Jesus Corona takes the ball towards Chelsea's goal in a rare attacking move by the Mexicans, but slips and gives the ball away to Chelsea for an easy clearance.

De Nigris spurns Monterrey's best chance so far. The ball is crossed to De Nigris, who beats Cech to it, but heads over the crossbar.

Corona takes a shot from just outside Chelsea's penalty area. It goes well high, but Monterrey are starting to look threatening, and Chelsea have work to do to keep their lead.

Chelsea are back on the attack, Luiz and Mata teaming up in the centre of the pitch. Monterrey have most of their players behind the ball.

Mata sets up Jon Obi Mikel for a rare attempt on goal by the Nigerian, but his strike is off-target. Chelsea seem to be back in control of the match.

Cole crosses to Torres in the box, but Torres is unable to control it, and three Monterrey defenders surround the Spaniard and take the ball away from him.

Cole looks to find Luiz down the left-hand side, but his pass is picked up by Monterrey, who are on the counter.

Monterrey take the ball up to the Chelsea box, but the Mexicans take too long to get the shot away, and Chelsea clear.

The match has gone a little flat for the first time, it looks like both sides may be settling for a 1-0 scoreline at half time.

Or not. Monterrey are back on the attack. De Nigris fails to connect with a close-range header. Monterrey win a corner, and it's De Nigris again, but his effort goes wide.

Ivanovic takes a rather hopeful shot from around 30 yards, which is easily collected by Jonathan Orozco. Chelsea look like they're trying to force a second goal before the break.

Luiz makes a fantastic run from the edge of the Chelsea area to the Monterrey box, trying to set Oscar up with a chance, but Monterrey are well organised at the back, and get the ball out for a Chelsea corner.

Mata's corner misses Chelsea's players, and Monterrey clear. The Mexican side take the ball up the other end of the pitch, but their cross into the box is easily taken by Cech.

Monterrey 0-1 Chelsea

I don't think we've seen the best of Chelsea in this match yet. The European Champions looked comfortable in the opening 30 minutes, but allowed Monterrey back into the match towards the end of the half, and are a little lucky to keep their 1-0 lead.

However, Chelsea definitely had enough chances to be more than one goal up, with Mata, Oscar, Torres and Luiz all looking good in the opening 45 minutes.

Chelsea have some strong attacking options on the bench, including Frank Lampard and Ramires.

It's worth noting that goal-line technology is being used in this game. The GoalRef system is in place for this tournament, not that it's been needed in the first half of this game.

The players are back on the pitch, ready for the second half.

Mata gets the second half underway.

GOAL! FERNANDO TORRES

Well that was quick. Straight from the kickoff, Chelsea are on the attack. Torres strikes the ball, which deflects in to the net off a Monterrey player. It looked like the shot had been going wide.

GOAL! CHAVEZ OWN GOAL

Monterrey had an effort saved. Chelsea then caught the Mexicans off-guard with quick run back to the Monterrey area. Mata attempted a cross which was deflected into the net by Chavez, who was running back to defend. Monterrey look shell-shocked.

Monterrey are back on the ball but don't seem to be able to make much progress up the pitch. Chelsea look well organised, and you get the feeling they could get the ball back if they wanted it.

And want it they did. Chelsea dispossess Monterrey on the edge of their area, setting up Mata for a strike. The ball finds the back of the net, but the assistant referee's flag goes up, as Mata was offside.

Luiz is brought down in the penalty area, but the referee lets play continue, and the Brazilian is back on his feet straight away.

De Nigris is continuing his good finish to the first half with a great effort on the Chelsea goal. Cech, who has had little to do so far this match, makes a great save to keep the ball out.

Chelsea have another chance, as Torres gets the ball inside the area. Monterrey clear and Chelsea get a corner, which is also cleared.

Ricardo Osorio comes on for Sergio Perez, as Monterrey look to freshen up their defence.

Monterrey aren't giving Chelsea as many easy opportunities, and look more organised at the back, but the Premier League side are still well on top.

It looks like we may be seeing Frank Lampard shortly. The veteran midfielder is standing up and stretching, as he continues to find match fitness following a calf injury.

And here comes Lampard, replacing David Luiz who has been impressive in midfield.

Hazard pulls the ball back to Lampard, who has his first shot of the game from the edge of the penalty area. The ball curls wide, but it looks like Lampard is keen to add his name to the scoresheet.

It looks like Chelsea are coasting again here. They look very comfortable on the ball, and there's little urgency in their play. This has become a training session ahead of Sunday's final.

Delgado looks to get Monterrey back in the match with a shot from the edge of the Chelsea area, but he doesn't hit the ball cleanly, and it's an easy save for Cech.

De Nigris is in on goal again, but the pass to him is a little too pacy, and Cech beats him to the ball. Gary Cahill is unhappy with the assistant ref for not flagging the Mexican offside.

Chelsea are making another change, presumably looking ahead to Sunday's final. Mata goes off, with Paulo Ferreira taking his place.

De Nigris is definitely Monterrey's best chance of a goal. He's been the only member of his team to give Cech much to do, and seems to be involved every time Monterrey are on the break.

Ferreira gets his first chance after coming on, but gets a bit too close to Basanta, fouling the Monterrey captain, and conceding a free kick on the edge of the Monterrey area.

Torres is done for the day, Victor Moses replacing him. There's still some debate as to whether Torres will be allowed to keep his goal, as it did take quite a deflection from a Monterrey player.

Monterrey haven't given up here. There's very little chance they'll get three goals in the final 10 minutes, but they're still chasing the ball, if only for the chance of a consolation goal.

The Mexican side are bringing on some fresh legs for the final minutes of this semi-final match. On come Edgar Solis and Dario Carreno.

The Corinthians players are off. They know who they'll be facing on Sunday, so are leaving the stadium early to avoid the rush.

Lampard takes another shot, but it's high, and Chelsea are now just looking to keep possession for the final minutes.

Monterrey are back on the ball, still looking for their consolation goal, but it doesn't look like they're going to get it, Chelsea's back four are far too strong.

The fourth official indicates that there will be two minutes of injury time.

GOAL! DE NIGRIS

Finally, Aldo de Nigris has his goal. The Monterrey striker has been their best player all game, and probably deserved the goal.

FULL-TIME Monterrey 1-3 Chelsea

Well there you have it, Chelsea are into the final of the Club World Cup. It's obvious they weren't giving 100% today, but they got the job done, against a Monterrey side which looked dangerous at times, and they should have plenty in the tank for Sunday's final against Corinthians.

Don't forget to have a read of my colleague Darren Plant's report on today's match.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole this morning and lunchtime, and stick around for coverage later from the Copa del Rey, Ligue 1 and Spurs' NextGen game against Anderlecht. Goodbye.

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