Barcelona beats River Plate take Club World Cup title
Lionel Messi fired Barcelona to its third Club World Cup title on Sunday with a disputed opening goal as the European champion beat South American champion River Plate 3-0 in the final.
Messi scored from close range in the 36th minute before Luis Suarez grabbed two more goals.
Replays strongly suggested the ball hit Messi's right arm before he shot home.
Suarez added to his semifinal hat trick against China's Guangzhou Evergrande, scoring just four minutes after the break. He ran down the right flank on to a fine through ball from Sergio Busquets that exposed the Argentine team's defense.
Brazil striker Neymar supplied the cross which Suarez headed home in the 68th, making it five goals in two matches for the Uruguayan forward.
Earlier Sunday, Douglas came off the bench to score twice and inspire Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Chinese rival Guangzhou Evergrande in the third-place game.
Messi scored from close range in the 36th minute before Luis Suarez grabbed two more goals.
Replays strongly suggested the ball hit Messi's right arm before he shot home.
Suarez added to his semifinal hat trick against China's Guangzhou Evergrande, scoring just four minutes after the break. He ran down the right flank on to a fine through ball from Sergio Busquets that exposed the Argentine team's defense.
Brazil striker Neymar supplied the cross which Suarez headed home in the 68th, making it five goals in two matches for the Uruguayan forward.
Earlier Sunday, Douglas came off the bench to score twice and inspire Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Chinese rival Guangzhou Evergrande in the third-place game.
==================================
