Club America's Ventura Alvarado (left) and Diego Arias of Atletico Nacional battle for possession during their FIFA Club World Cup third place match on December 18, 2016, in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Colombia’s Atletico Nacional prevailed over Club America, 4-3 on penalty kicks, after their match for third place in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup ended in a 2-2 draw on Sunday at the International Stadium Yokohama.
Osvaldo Martinez and Miguel Samudio failed to convert on Club America’s first two attempts in the shootout, while Atletico Nacional missed only once.
The Copa Libertadores champion jumped out to a 2-0 lead before 30 minutes had passed.
An own-goal by Samudio put Atletico ahead 1-0 in the sixth minute and Alejandro Guerra doubled the advantage 20 minutes later, when he fired in from 11-yards out off Orlando Berrio’s pulled back pass.
Club America halved the deficit in the 38th minute as Michael Arroyo connected with Samudio’s quickly squared feed from the left side of the box, drilling home from 11 yards with his left foot.
Substitute Oribe Peralta leveled for the Aguilas from the penalty spot in the 66th minute penalty after defender Farid Diaz barreled over Samudio in the box. The 32-year-old forward also scored in a 2-1 loss to the China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in last year's FCWC.
The match was ultimately decided on kicks from the spot, with 78th-minute substitute Miguel Borja – who forced a tremendous save from Club America goalkeeper Moises Muñoz late in regulation time -- netting the winner.
NOTES: In the final, Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals and Real Madrid earned a 4-2 win after extra time over Japan’s Kashima Antlers. It was the Spanish giant’s second FCWC title.
