Messi, Suarez fire Barca to third Club World Cup

A goal from Lionel Messi and a double from Luis Suarez saw Barcelona beat River Plate 3-0 in Yokohama to win the FIFA Club World Cup and cap a triumphant 2015 for the Catalan club.

Barcelona is the first club to lift the trophy in its modern format three times, following its triumphs in 2009 and 2011.

With Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi all starting for Barcelona, the result was never in doubt, especially after Messi had given the reigning European champions a first-half lead.

Messi opened the scoring 10 minutes before the end of a hard first half for Barcelona, who were tested by River’s intensity, but the European champions struck again early in the second period through Suarez and the Uruguayan sealed their third world title by heading home a cross from Neymar. “We must stay on the same path, we are the best team in the world”.

“We had a plan but when Messi scored, it went out of the window”, he said.

Messi missed the semi-final through illness and Brazil captain Neymar returned to the Barca line-up following a groin injury to supply a pair of assists – including a sumptuous cross for Suarez to complete the scoring. “It shows the sacrifice that there is in the group that they did everything to play”. Carlos Sanchez is their most capped player with a modest 11 outings for Uruguay.

Four minutes into the second half, Suarez made it 2-0. By contrast, River Plate faced a sterner test en route to the final, with goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero ensuring they did not fall behind in their encounter with Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima before Lucas Alario headed his team into the final after 72 minutes.

“It was very important to finish third”, said Douglas. Now it’s time to enjoy some time off with our families and then we’ll return to the task of trying to keep winning.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Evergrande had been overwhelming favourites to win the bronze medal but they wilted badly after a strong start. The Brazilian’s flawless cross gave Suarez a simple header, capping off another silky move and making absolutely sure the trophy was theirs. “We looked a exhausted team”.