TP Mazembe stun Internacional for historic win

ABU DHABI: African champions Tout Puissant Mazembe pulled off the biggest shock in the 10-year history of the Club World Cup by beating Internacional 2-0 in the semi-finals here on Tuesday.

The side from the Democratic Republic of Congo prevailed through fine second-half strikes by Mulota Kabangu and Dioko Kaluyituka to become the first team from outside Europe and South America to reach the tournament's final.

Having already seen off Mexicans Pachuca in the quarter-finals, they will now face either European champions Inter Milan or Asian Champions League holders Seongnam Ilhwa of South Korea in Sunday's decider.

"We believed in ourselves, we were confident and you could see that when we started attacking, especially at the start of the second half," said TP Mazembe coach Lamine N'Diaye.

"We were lucky too, and don't forget that our goalkeeper was excellent -- he was like a magician! But to win 2-0, it's a day of happiness for us.

"It's very good for this team and for the Congolese people, and every African should be proud of this team."

South American champions Internacional, from the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, were bidding to become the first team to win the competition twice, having already tasted success in 2006.

They were, however, routinely frustrated by TP Mazembe goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba, whose brilliance played a decisive role in one of the most famous results in his club's history.

Roth made two changes in a bid to force a way back into the contest and saw substitute Giuliano bring another splendid stop from Kidiaba with a left-foot effort in the 69th minute.

As the Brazilians pressed forward, TP Mazembe hit them with a sucker punch in the 85th minute.

Kaluyituka picked up the ball wide on the left and bamboozled Pablo Guinazu with a series of step-overs before cracking a low drive into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box.