Liverpool to face Saprissa in Japan

Sydney FC 0 Deportivo Saprissa 1

Deportivo Saprissa booked a semi-final date with Liverpool at the Club World Championship after a hard-fought victory over 10-man Sydney FC in Toyota.

Alvin Ceccoli saw red for a challenge on Saprissa keeper Francisco Porras late on but the Costa Ricans were marginally the better team throughout a game that featured two of the tournament’s underdogs.

The winner came three minutes into the second half when pony-tailed winger Christian Bolanos drifted in from the left, controlled a hopeful long punt on his chest and guided the ball past Clint Bolton.

The last four are now finalised, with Saprissa playing Liverpool in Yokohama on Thursday and Sao Paulo facing Asian champions Al Ittihad in Tokyo the night before.