Saprissa Finishes Third in the World
Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa scored two late goals to beatAl Ittihad 3-2 and finish third in the FIFA Club World Championship on Sunday.

Substitute Ronald Gomez blasted in a superb free kick from the edge of the box in the 89th minute to give Saprissa victory over their Saudi opponents in Yokohama.

"It's great to know that we have made history for Costa Rica," said Saprissa coach Hernan Medford. "It's a huge boost for our country to finish third in the world."

Four minutes earlier Saprissa striker Alvaro Saborio had equalised from the penalty spot for the CONCACAF champions as Al Ittihad suffered a meltdown late in the third-place playoff.

Saborió had given Saprissa the lead in the 13th minute but Mohammed Kallon equalised for Ittihad 15 minutes later, pouncing on the loose ball after his initial shot had been saved.

Cameroon striker Joseph-Desire Job, on loan from English Premier League club Middlesbrough, put Ittihad 2-1 up after a twice-taken penalty eight minutes into the second half.

But a rash challenge by Ittihad defender Osama Al Harbi on Gomez in the 85th minute lifted Saprissa and clearly rattled the Asian champions.

Saborió converted the penalty and, after Asian player of the year Hamad Al Montashari was sent off for stamping on Saborió, Gomez smashed home the resulting free kick.

"I think we deserved to win," said Medford. "We took our chances. We did enough to beat the Asian champions. I don't think we were particularly lucky to win." Al Ittihad were also beaten 3-2 by Libertadores Cup holders Sao Paulo in the semi-finals while Saprissa lost 3-0 to European champions Liverpool.

Sao Paulo and Liverpool meet in the final of the revamped six-team tournament later on Sunday.