With goals scored by Alexandre Pato and Luiz Adriano, players developed in the youth teams, Internacional beat Al-Ahly 2-1 in Tokyo on Wednesday. The Colorados qualified to play the FIFA Club World Cup final match on Sunday. Their opponents will be either FC Barcelona or Club América. The two teams face each other on Thursday.

Luiz Adriano (left) and Alexandre Pato celebrate: youngsters decided the match against Al-Ahly (Jefferson Bernardes/VIPCOMM)

The match was tough from the beginning. Al-Ahly adopted a 3-5-2 formation and played wide football, especially with wing-back Said. With quick passing, the Egyptians made things difficult for Inter. The Gaúchos employed high-pressure marking and attempted many shots from outside the penalty box in order to surprise the opposition. In the end, Internacional's youngsters shone and scored two goals - one in each half.

The approximately 1,000 Inter supporters who travelled around the world started early to push the team ahead. During the players? warm-up on the pitch, the name of each footballer was chanted by the Colorados, who were scattered across Tokyo National Stadium, stage for the 1964 Olympics. Even the coaching staff and the management were applauded by the crowd.

Inter supporters at Tokyo National Stadium (Jefferson Bernardes/VIPCOMM)

Before the two teams entered the pitch, the stadium?s commentators announced the name and number of each player ? including the reserves ? in English and Japanese. Some Inter players had their names ?adapted? to Japanese, which caused laughter among some Gaúcho supporters. Fabiano Eller became "Fabian Eller"; Clemer, "Cremer"; Wellington Monteiro, "Wellington Montiro"; and Ediglê, "Edigrê". As they waited, the Inter faithful sang the club anthem and the traditional Beira-Rio hymns, such as the famous "Colorado, Colorado, nothing will lead us apart..."

As if it were a World Cup match between national teams, the two sides entered the field side by side to the sound of the Germany 2006 theme song. The only difference was that the country anthems were not played.

Above: Índio, Eller, Edinho, Wellington Monteiro, Clemer and Hidalgo
Below: Ceará, Alexandre Pato, Alex, Iarley and Fernandão (photograph by Andrew Couldrige)

As the match kicked off, Inter tried to obtain an early advantage. At 1?25??, Wellington Monteiro attempted a shot from outside the box. The pitch was wet due to the heavy rain before the match, which made the ball slippery. That led to an increased number of wrong passes on both sides.

At 3?22??, Aboutrika, one of Africa's best players, took a direct free kick, but Clemer saved it. At 6?40??, Inter responded with Iarley, who received the ball outside the box and shot it wide. At 8?47??, Hidalgo crossed from the right in a set move. Fabiano Eller headed to Alexandre Pato, who sent it home, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.

Hidalgo faces Egyptian opposition (Daniel Boucinha)

Inter did not desist and remained in the attack. At 11?, Alex entered the penalty area and made a perfect cross to Hidalgo, who shot it over the bar. However, the assistant referee had already raised the flag for offside again.

The Japanese crowd were silent. They cheered only for the odd move. But you could hear Inter supporters shouting from all corners of the stadium.

At 13?55??, Ceará crossed from the right and Alexandre Pato headed it over the bar. Little by little, Inter increased the pressure as the Egyptians remained in their side of the pitch. At 18?30??, Ceará took a strong shot from outside the box. At 20?5??, it was Wellington Monteiro?s time to try his luck, but the ball was wide again.

Alexandre Pato (right) celebrates with Iarley (Jefferson Brnardes/VIPCOMM)

At 22?45??, Inter scored the opener. Fernandão made a perfect through pass to Alexandre Pato, who was controlling the ball when he was tackled by the defender. Then, Alex fought for possession with another African defender, who inadvertently passed the ball to Alexandre. Alone in front of the goal, the 17-year-old striker netted it past the keeper.

In two first-team appearances, Alexandre Pato was scoring his second goal. Colorado celebrations all over the world as the crowd in the stands chanted after the goal.

With the goal, Inter were allowed space for counter-attack. In one such move, at 27?45??, Fabiano Eller surged towards the attack and passed it to Iarley, who was caught offside.

Fernandão set up the opener and showed combativeness in the midfield (Jefferson Bernardes/VIPCOMM)

On the pitch, Inter featured teamwork and combativeness. To the point that Fernandão, who played in the midfield, received a yellow card after committing a foul just beside Inter?s penalty area.

Losing the match, the African champions had to move forward. At 33?15??, Shawky attempted from outside the box but the ball went over the bar. At 36?20??, Clemer made a great save after a free kick taken by El Nahas. At 38?, Inter supporters had to hold their breath. From inside the box, Aboutrika recovered the ball from the defence and hit the post.

Clemer makes a great save and prevents Al-Ahly from scoring (Daniel Boucinha)

Inter had another good opportunity at 45?40??, when Alexandre Pato entered the box in high speed, but the shot was poor and the keeper saved it. At 46?10??, El Shater crossed the ball from the right and Shanky volleyed it over the bar. End of first half.

During the break, the Internacional faithful cheered at first half moves replayed on the big screen. First world stuff. Meanwhile, Al-Ahly?s coach, Manoel José, tried to engineer his needed comeback win by fielding striker Moteab in the place of defensive midfielder Mostafa.

With the change, the Egyptian side became more offensive in the second half. At 47?25??, Alex employed drive and skill on the left and passed the ball to Alexandre Pato to shoot it wide. At 52?, Pato marvelled the world by controlling the ball on his shoulder for some 20 metres before trying a cross. The whole stadium went ?ohhhh? at the move.

Alexandre Pato was one of the best players on the pitch (Jefferson Bernardes/VIPCOMM)

At 53?25??, the Africans tied the affair. Said made a perfect cross from the left, and Angolan striker Flávio made it before the defence to head it past Clemer. With the draw, the match became nervous and hard-fought. The Japanese crowd was no longer quiet. The Colorados did not cool off and kept pushing the team on.

At 56?15??, Alex attempted it from outside the box, but the ball went over the bar. At 60?50??, Hidalgo advanced with a one-two and shot it wide. The Peruvian full-back got injured and had to leave the field for Rubens Cardoso to come in at 63?. One minute later, it was Alexandre?s turn to leave the pitch and be replaced by Luiz Adriano. The two players had made up the Internacional striking pair who won this year?s Brazilian U-20 Championship.

It was a blessed change. At 71?50??, Ceará took a precise corner for Luiz Adriano to head it slowly into the net. Inter's second goal in the match was also Luiz Adriano's second in the first team.

Luiz Adriano bursts with joy: striker scored the winner (photograph by Andrew Couldrige)

The advantage brought more tranquillity to Abel Braga?s men. At 76?55??, another corner taken by Ceará almost ended up in the third goal. The ball hit a defender, but the keeper managed to save it. At 79?45??, goalkeeper El Hadary needed to be replaced due to injury, and the match stopped for almost five minutes. Abdelhamid substituted for him. At 81?, Vargas replaced Iarley to reinforce marking and passing in the midfield.

In the dying moments, Inter managed to defend well and secure the win. And the team almost scored another one at 92', when Fernandão took a powerful shot for Abdelhamid to save it. As the referee blew the final whistle, the players hugged each other and ran towards the crowd. Colorado party in Japan!

?The first-match anxiety lasted a little bit. It was the most important match in the club's history. The team did not play a great match, but achieved their goal. I am positive that Inter will play better on Sunday, whether against América of México or Barcelona," foresaw coach Abel Braga in the post-match press conference.

?It had been some time since I was trying to score a goal for Inter. So good it came out during the Club World Cup,? celebrated striker Luiz Adriano, who scored the winner.

I had a cramp, but I am now ready and in shape for the final match. We are going to work hard to be well and correct any errors we?ve made," assessed Alexandre Pato.

?The opposition passed the ball well, but we ran a lot in the first half not to let any space. We had some difficulty, but we secured the win,? analysed Fernandão.

?One more time did the kids from the Factory of Aces show Inter have good football at home. We managed to win with determination and willingness. Now it?s time to wait for our final opponents," said Vitório Piffero, Internacional's vice president of football and president elect.
 
?The two kids coming from the youth teams ended up deciding the game. We had not played for 15 days, we had a few difficulties, as the opposition played well. But we have made it to the final,? celebrated president Fernando Carvalho.

Internacional (2): Clemer; Ceará, Índio, Fabiano Eller and Hidalgo (Rubens Cardoso); Edinho, Wellington Monteiro, Fernandão and Alex; Iarley (Vargas) and Alexandre Pato (Luiz Adriano). Coach: Abel Braga.

Al-Ahly (1): El Hadary (Abdelhamid); Gomaa, El Nahas and Mohamed; El Shater (Ahmed Sedik), Mostafa (Moteab), Ashour, Shawky and Said; Aboutrika and Flávio. Coach: Manuel José.

Goals: Alexandre Pato (I), at 22?45??, Flávio (A), at 53?25??, Luiz Adriano (I), at 71?50??. Yellow cards: Fernandão Alex (I), Gomaa, Flávio (A). Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia), assisted by Hamdi Al Kadri (Syria) and Eisa Ghuloum (United Arab Emirates). Venue: Tokyo National Stadium.

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