Bayern Munich wins the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup in Marrakech with a 2-0 win over Raja Casablanca, but the Morocco team won praise as well as silver medals for their remarkable run to the final, from fervent fans and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, who attended the championship match and honored the top three teams with their Club World Cup awards. FIFA
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* Raja Casablanca fans happy with their team despite loss in Club World Cup final; Moroccan team takes Silver medals, Raja striker Mouhssine Iajour awarded tournament Bronze Ball. “We flew the Moroccan flag with dignity and made all of our supporters very proud,” said midfielder Chemseddine Chtibi. *
* Video Highlights of Club World Cup Final in Morocco *
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Associated Press, Goal.com, FIFA (Marrakech, Morocco, December 22, 2013) — Bayern Munich capped the greatest year in club history by beating Raja Casablanca 2-0 to win its third Club World Cup on Saturday.
The European champions added a record fifth title to their trophy cabinet at the tournament of continental champions to go with the Champions League, Bundesliga, German Cup, and European Super Cup triumphs in 2013.
Dante scored early to deflate the Moroccan hosts at Marrakech Stadium, and Thiago Alcantara put the Bavarian side in command with his 22nd-minute goal.
Unheralded Raja, which beat Copa Libertadores champion Atletico Mineiro in the semifinals, used its speed on the break and came close to scoring but ultimately couldn’t keep up with the German champions.
Dante of FC Bayern Munchen wins the ball from Mouhssine Iajour of Raja Casablanca during the FIFA Club World Cup Final between FC Bayern Munchen and Raja Casablanca at Marrakech Stadium on December 21, 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo: Alex Livesey – FIFA/Getty Images
”I think we knew how to approach each game and that was key,” said coach Pep Guardiola, who won the event for the third time, including twice before with Barcelona. ”The first 25 minutes we played very well. After that we forgot to attack.” Bayern won the first of two Intercontinental Cups — the forerunner to this event — exactly 37 years ago on Saturday.
With King Mohammed VI of Morocco amid the majority of 37,747 spectators cheering for Raja, the Moroccan club just couldn’t muster enough to break through against Bayern’s deep squad of internationals.
Guardiola made three changes to the team that dismissed Guangzhou Evergrande of China 3-0 in the semifinals, with Dante replacing slow-footed central defender Daniel van Buyten to pace Raja’s speedy forwards, who were especially dangerous on the counter.
Dante made an immediate impact as the Brazil international gathered teammate Jerome Boateng’s headed corner inside the box to blast it past helpless goalkeeper Khalid Askri seven minutes after the start. Raja’s defense erred by playing Dante onside to score, and it was again scrambling in the 22nd as David Alaba laid a pass onto Thiago’s run into the area to sidefoot a powerful shot beyond Askri.
Dante of Muenchen scores his teams first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Raja Casablanca at Marrakech Stadium on December 21, 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo: FIFA/Getty Images
”It is the greatest team in the world with the greatest coach. We believed in our means but we were not lucky today,” said Benzarti, who guided the club in its second appearance of the competition and first since 2000. ”We were not aggressive enough. And we were playing giants.”
With the crowd — and a nation, really — behind them, the hosts did not wilt and came close to breaking through.
Forward Mouhssine Iajour, who was instrumental in the upset of Atletico, had several opportunities as Raja found space on the break, and Abdellah Hafidi got an unlucky bounce in the 38th as he nearly caught goalkeeper Manuel Neuer out after a poor clearance.
“Our opponents did what they could to make it a tough match,” Thomas Muller, of Bayern Munich, told the club’s official website.
“We would have liked to score another goal or two, but Casablanca didn’t make it easy, even in the second half. We won 2-0 and that’s what counts.”
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI presents the tournament trophy to Bayern Munich’s defender and captain Philipp Lahm after they win the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup final match, 2-0, against Raja Casablanca in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, on December 21, 2013. Photo: Getty Images
Morocco’s Raja Casablanca produces commendable Club World Cup
(Goal.com, by Kingsley Kobo)
The Green Boys’ sum of achievements at the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup exceeded expectations despite losing the final 2-0 to favorites Bayern Munich. Raja Casablanca coach Faouzi Benzarti spoke to reporters after his side dared the impossible, but lost to European champions Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final of the 2013 Fifa Club World Cup in Marrakesh on Saturday.
“We fought a good fight, I’m proud of my team. A new adventure opens for the entire outfit and it has been an eye opener for other clubs in the country and beyond,” he said. Few pundits had tipped the Moroccan league champions to progress from the playoff and local fans had been more enthused by the tournament itself.
After their first two victories against Auckland City 2-1 and Monterrey 2-1 in the playoff and quarterfinals respectively, Benzarti and his men began to win admirers not only in the Kingdom but across the North African region, with almost every new footballer lover becoming a fan of Raja.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI waves with Raja Casablanca players before their 2013 FIFA Club World Cup final soccer match against Germany’s Bayern Munich at Marrakech stadium December 21, 2013. Photo: FIFA/Getty Images
The elimination of hopefuls and African Champions Al Ahly caused more supporters to align themselves with Raja, as the team progressed steadily in the tournament and gained media attention. Morocco did not qualify for the upcoming Fifa World Cup in Brazil but Raja’s presence and inspiring performances at the Club World Cup provided some boisterous football moments shared by fans nationwide irrespective of their membership to other local clubs.
Raja’s 3-1 triumph over the Ronaldinho-led South American champions Atletico Mineiro sent millions of fans in the country into raptures, as not even coach Benzarti had thought his side could reach the final of the tournament and become the second African team to play in the Club World Cup final after TP Mazembe in 2010.
The aims and objectives of Raja had been surpassed. Facing Bayern Munich in the final was more of an honor. They knew defeating the Bavarians was a near-impossible task and that reproaches would be mild from all quarters if they simply finished as finalists. However, what Benzarti was frightened of was a humiliation in the range of a 5-0, 6-1, etc, which his team was able to avoid in front of 37,000 staunch fans.
Goals from Dante and Thiago Alcantara after 22 minutes settled the matter for Bayern to claim their fifth title of the season. However, after controlling the flow of the match in the first half, Bayern lost some ground in the second half to Raja, who also created a number of clear cut chances that threatened the German back half.
Raja Casablanca’s boisterous fans helped carry the team to three straight wins and into the finals of the 2013 Club World Cup, hosted by Morocco. FIFA
A careless pass from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer gifted unmarked Chemseddine Chtibi a ball near the box but the Morocco international midfielder struck wide of an empty net.
Mouhssine Iajour’s close range header in the 57th minute from Zakaria El Hachimi’s right wing cross could’ve brought Raja back into the game but Neuer intervened to save his side.
Vivien Madibe, who received a ball inside the box with only Neuer to beat, crashed his effort against the keeper, with onrushing captain Mouhcine Moutouali failing to hit home the rebound.
Like Benzarti said, Raja fought a good fight, as good as they could, against the best club in the world right now, and even though they lost 2-0, they gained considerable kudos for an outstanding outing at their first FIFA Club World Cup.
Raja also acquired vital experience for future challenges both at home and abroad.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI stands with Raja Casablanca following award of second-place medals at 2013 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco. FIFA
Awards for Bayern duo and Raja Casablanca’s Iajour
(FIFA.com)
FIFA’s Technical Study Group has named Franck Ribery as Player of the Tournament at the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013. The French international delivered two excellent performances for FC Bayern Munchen, including a fine goal in his team’s 3-0 semi-final win over Guangzhou Evergrande FC, and has as such been honoured with the adidas Golden Ball, as well as the TOYOTA Award. FIFA.com recaps all the individual prizes in full:
adidas Golden Ball and TOYOTA Award: Franck Ribery (FC Bayern Munchen)
Whenever the explosive Frenchman was in possession, the crowds in Morocco held their collective breath. Ribery left spectators stunned with his lightning-quick dribbling and darting forward runs, continuing the remarkable form he has produced throughout 2013. The FIFA Ballon d’Or candidate not only created countless goalscoring opportunities for his team-mates but also set Bayern on their way to victory over Guangzhou Evergrande FC in the semi-final, his powerful volley opening the scoring against the Chinese outfit. Being honoured with the adidas Golden Ball and the TOYOTA Award crown a memorable year for the 30-year-old who, as well as winning the Club World Cup itself, will go down as this edition’s standout performer.
adidas Silver Ball and TOYOTA Award: Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern Munchen)
Bayern’s captain was also the man that orchestrated their triumph from his position of defensive midfield. Constantly driving his team on, Lahm won tackle after tackle and was the source from which so many of the Bavarians’ dangerous attacks stemmed. The 30-year-old proved himself yet again to be a born leader with two typically flawless performances, and showed his ability to exploit any spaces in opponents’ defences with his clever use of the ball. The adidas Silver Ball is a fitting reward for his excellent displays.
FIFA awards tournament’s top players with Gold, Siver, and Bronze Balls for individual performance. Winners (from left to right) are: Franck Ribery (FC Bayern Munchen), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern Munchen), and Mouhssine Iajour (Raja Casablanca). FIFA
adidas Bronze Ball and TOYOTA Award: Mouhssine Iajour (Raja Casablanca)
The Moroccan league champions may have fallen at the final hurdle and missed out on a sensational victory, but they will have won many admirers in this tournament, particularly striker Mouhssine Iajour. The 28-year-old shone in all four of his club’s matches, demonstrating an impressive eye for goal but also an extraordinary work ethic. His tireless running made him a thorn in the side of opposition defenses throughout and his two goals played a major part in Raja reaching the final. The adidas Bronze Ball is certainly far more than a mere consolation prize for the hard-working leader of Raja’s attack.
FIFA Fair Play award: FC Bayern Munchen
Pep Guardiola’s Bayern not only ended up as the most successful team at Morocco 2013. They were also the fairest competitor as well. The reigning UEFA Champions League winners did not receive a single yellow card in their two games, and the award makes it a triumphant week all around for Germany’s most decorated club.
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