Club America will be counting on goals from Dario Benedetto (right) and Carlos Darwin Quintero (left) for success at the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. (Photo: Mexsport)

OSAKA, Japan – Club America will open its second-ever FIFA Club World Cup campaign at the Osaka Nagai Stadium on Sunday with a quarterfinal meeting against China's Guangzhou Evergrande. 

The Aguilas last participated in the tournament nine years ago, earning a 1-0 victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC -- another Asian titleholder – before dropping a 4-0 semifinal decision to Barcelona and falling 2-1 to Egypt’s Al Ahly in the match for third place. 

Barcelona will once again be waiting in the semifinal wings, with the Club America-Guangzhou Evergrande winner slated to meet the European giant on December 17. 

Head coach Ignacio Ambriz is refusing to let history stand in the way of the 2014/15 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League champion's ambitions. He has set his sights on the championship match. 

“We represent America, which is a great institution, but also Mexican football,” said Ambriz. “So we should view it like that and it has been made known to the players. We have hopes like any of the other teams that we are fighting to be in the final.” 

Last Sunday, Club America was eliminated from the 2015 Liga MX playoffs after tumbling to top-seeded Pumas, 4-3 on aggregate, despite a 3-1 triumph on the road in the second leg. 

Ambriz acknowledged mistakes were made that led to the final outcome.

“We committed key errors, starting with the lineup decisions in the first match where I left Dario [Benedetto] on the bench,” the 50-year-old commented. “Later, we made a mistake in having two sending-offs in the first match, two in the second, where we were playing a good game.” 

With another big match on the horizon, Ambriz wants his team to forget the recent past and focus on the Asian champion. 

“We are now very concentrated on what is going to be Sunday’s match,” he continued. “We need to see America with aggressiveness during the 90 minutes. We knew that if we got to the (Liga MX Apertura) semifinals or finals, we would go to go into the Club World Cup in good shape.” 

In 2000, as a player, Ambriz formed part of the Necaxa team that competed in the inaugural Club World Cup, prevailing over Real Madrid in the match for third place 4-3 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw. 

“I got to experience the first Club World Cup as a player,” the former Mexico national team star finished. “Today, I am afforded the opportunity as a manager and it is a great challenge. 

“We are representing Mexico.”