Play-In Game:
Adelaide United (AUS) 2 – 1 Waitakere United (NZL)
ADE: Mullen 39′ & Dodd 83′
WAI: Seaman 34′

Quarterfinals:
Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 – 0 Adelaide United (AUS)
GAM: Endo 23′

Pachuca (MEX) 4 – 2 Al-Ahly (EGY)
PAC: Montez 47′, Gimenez 73′ & 110′, Alvarez 98′
AHL: Pinto og 28, Flavio 45′

Semi-finals:
Liga De Quito (ECU) 2 – 0 Pachuca (MEX)
LDQ: Bieler 4′, Bolanos 26′

Manchester United (ENG) 5 – 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN)
MAN: Vidic 28′, C. Ronaldo 45′+1′, Rooney 75′ & 79′, Fletcher 78′
GAM: :Yamazaki 74′, Endo pen 85′, Hashimoto 90′+1′

5th Place
Adelaide United (AUS) 1 – 0 Al-Ahly
ADE: Cristiano 7′

3rd Place
Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 – 0 Pachuca (MEX)
GAM: Yamazaki 29′

FINAL:
Manchester United (ENG) 1 – 0  Liga De Quito (ECU)
MAN: Rooney 73′

Congratulations to the World Champion Manchester United Football Club. They made me look good at the end with their victory over Liga De Quito in the final. Overall, 3 out of the 7 predictions made, came to pass.

Part II of our FIFA Club World Cup preview features the heavy hitters of this tournament.  They represent the regions most familiar to the footballing world, Especially to those of us in the west.   They include two continental powers and one big surprise. 

Pachuca CF

Los Tuzos have won the last two CONCACAF Champions Cup and will be making their 2nd straight appearance in the FIFA CWC. Last year, they were stunned 1-0 by African champions Etoile Du Sahel in the quarters and look to get past Al-Ahly this year.  Coach Enrique Meza has turned Pachuca into the premier team in CONCACAF.  The oldest Mexican side has a South American core with their Colombian keeper, Miguel Calero and Argentine strikers Christian Giménez and Bruno Marioni as well as Brazilian playmaker Christian.
Prediction:
Will go out once again to an African side. One and done.

Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito

The team with the longest club name in this tournament belongs to the Copa Libertadores champions. The team more commonly known as Liga made history by becoming the 1st Ecuadorean team to win South America’s greatest club competition. The player of the Libertadores, Joffre Guerrón is now at Getafe but coach Edgardo Bauza can still count on the core of veteran keeper José Cevallos, speedy winger Luis Bolaños, and Argentine strike force of Claudio Bieler & Damián Manso to bring the same energy to Japan as they did to South America.
Prediction: 
Will lose a close one to Al-Ahly in semis

Manchester United

The Red Devils went undefeated in the Champions League as they won their 3rd European title. Everyone knows about their superstar player and recently awarded Ballon D’Or winner, cocky winger Cristiano Ronaldo but Manchester United really earned their place at the 08 FIFA CWC by playing fantastic defense.  Especially in the knockout stage where they only allowed 2 goals.  That defense is anchored in the middle by the pairing of Nemanja Vidic & Rio Ferdinand.  Vidic has quickly become Sir Alex Ferguson’s most reliable defender and in a tournament with teams whose offenses are of unknown potential, the partnership of Vidic & Ferdinand could be the difference.
Prediction:
Will be pushed by Al-Ahly in the final but will win its 1st FIFA CWC

 The 2008 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be exciting and historic as the team that wins will claim its 1st ever World Club Championship.  Let’s hope for some exciting football with high drama. This year, the traditional powers of South America and Europe are not locks to reach the final despite the tournament’s format.  What a great story it would be if the Copa Libertadores champion or UEFA Champions League does not win the FIFA Club World Cup.   Enjoy, it should be entertaining and a great way to end 2008.

2008 will end with a new World Champion, this time at the club level as the 5th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is about to take flight. Last year, UEFA Champions League winner AC Milan took down Copa Libertadores champion Boca Juniors in the final to claim the trophy.

The FIFA Club World Cup is great because it provides the opportunity for the champions of FIFA’s continental zones to play against each other and claim the title as World Champion. Considering the form of the traditional powers, this could be the year that a team outside of South America and Europe wins the title of World Champion. Let’s look at the participating clubs and their chances at winning the tournament: 

Waitakere United

The winners of the 07-08 Oceania Champions League aka O-League, the team from New Zealand makes their 2nd consecutive appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup.  Their young attacking duo of Kiwi Allan Pierce and Brazilian Adriano Pimienta will be relied upon to lead Waitakere in this tournament.  Pierce was the 07-08 O-League’s leading goal scorer and Pimienta has massive experience seeing important minutes in the UEFA Champions League from his days at Swiss side FC Thun. 
Prediction:
One and done.

Adelaide United FC

The Reds are making Australian club football history.  They were the 1st Australian side to progress to the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League and the 1st Australian side to progress to the final.  They were dominated by Japanese side Gamba Osaka in the final but advanced to the FIFA CWC as the highest non-Japanese club in Asia. Now they play Waitakere United in the play-in game led by The Reds all-time leader in goals and matches, Travis Dodd who could be in Europe soon.  Their strength might be the back line with a couple of Brazilian wingbacks, Alemão on the right and Cássio on the left along with veteran centerbacks Saša Ognenovski and Ang Costanzo anchoring the defense. 
Prediction:
They will beat Waitakere but get bounced by a familiar nemesis in Gamba Osaka in the quarters

Gamba Osaka

The recently crowned Asian club champions will be on home turf or at least in their own country for the FIFA CWC. The Japanese side stormed through the Asian Champions League going undefeated through the tournament and allowing only 3 goals in the knockout stage. The player of the tournament was their midfield general, Yasuhito Endo. The forward tandem of Brazilian Lucas and Masato Yamazaki will form a formidable attacking triumvirate with Endo.
Prediction:
A semi-final exit versus Manchester United. 3rd place would not be a surprise.

Al-Ahly

The Egyptian club side is the most decorated team in African football and at the turn of the century was named by Confederation of African Football as the African Club of the Century.  Al-Ahly has the most appearances in the FIFA CWC with 3 and they were the 1st club to appear in consecutive tournaments. The braintrust of Al-Ahly consists of Portuguese coach Manuel Jose and midfield general and soon to be crowned African Footballer of the Year, Mohamed Aboutrika. They have the experience and cohesion to make history in the tournament.
Prediction:
1st non-European, non-South American team to reach the final

Part II will feature the heavy hitters as Pachuca CF, Liga De Quito, and Manchester United get analyzed.