Barcelona have been crowned world champions
for a second time after a sensational 4-0 victory over Santos in front
of an awestruck sell-out crowd at the Yokohama International Stadium.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring for the Catalans, before Xavi and Cesc Fabregas added their names to the score-sheet in a completely one-sided first half. Santos showed more after the break, but never looked likely to make their way back into a game they surrendered in the first 45 minutes. Messi put the icing on the cake with a late strike, to put the result beyond any doubt.
The opening exchanges of the match passed in a predictable fashion. Santos started with a five-man defence and the intention of not conceding an early goal, and their deep back line allowed Barcelona to dominate possession. The Brazilians looked strong, however, and Barca were allowed limited glimpses of goalkeeper Rafael in the first 15 minutes.
The shot-stopper showed his talents though with an impressive double save. Lionel Messi was the first to unlock the Santos defence with a typical mazy run, and his long-range shot was parried by Rafael who was quickly up to deny Thiago with the rebound. Ganso, meanwhile, had an early effort for the Peixe, but his left-foot effort from outside the box fizzed wide of Victor Valdes' left post.
The highly rated Neymar was outshinned by an outstanding Bacelona attack led by Lionel Messi, and it was to be the Catalans who took the lead, as Messi once more showed why he is considered the best player on the planet. The Argentine picked up a wonderful ball from Xavi and delicately flicked the ball over Rafael's head, and Bruno Rodrigo's despairing dive could not deny a beautifully worked opener for the Blaugrana.
After just 22 minutes, the score was 2-0. Santos failed to cut out a cross-field ball, and Xavi found it all too easy to storm through the middle and slide the ball past the keeper. Borges then called Valdes into action with a decent effort on the right, but it could so easily have been three within the first half-hour if Fabregas' close-range shot had not found the post.
Minutes before the half-time break, Barcelona gave another demonstration of their complete control. Dani Alves' cross was palmed by Rafael and the ball pinged across the box, before Fabregas stepped up to fire home and notch the side's third of a one-sided 45 minutes.
There was to be a final flourish for Barcelona. Messi was played in by Dani Alves free on the edge of the box, and the Ballon D'Or winner skipped past Rafael to slide the ball home and extend the scoreline to 4-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Josep Guardiola's side lift their second Club World Cup title, after the 2009 triumph over Argentine side Estudiantes. They also secured a quadruple for 2011, adding the trophy to Champions League, La Liga and Supercopa triumphs over the course of the year. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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