San Lorenzo set up final with Real Madrid after extra time win over Auckland

San Lorenzo will meet Real Madrid in the final of the Club World Cup after squeezing past Auckland City 2-1 after extra time.

The 15-time Argentine champions survived a scare to go through after substitute Mauro Matos’ goal.

Pablo Barrientos gave San Lorenzo the lead before the part-timers from New Zealand netted a deserved equaliser from Angel Berlanga.

And the Copa Liberatodores winners will need to improve in Saturday’s final if they have any chance against Madrid after a scrappy display against Auckland.

In a sterile first period of few chances, San Lorenzo eventually broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Barrientos fired the ball into the bottom corner after a neat passing move down the left.

But Auckland made it 1-1 when Emiliano Tade’s shot was saved and Berlanga put the rebound in from a tight angle.

That sparked a dramatic period of play with Cauteruccio coming agonisingly close with a stunning volley which rattled the post before Tade wasted a one-on-one chance by chipping the ball over.

In extra time, the South Americans regained the lead early on when Matos drove the ball in from close range.

The underdogs continued to press though and Tim Payne hit the post with a low effort but San Lorenzo held on to book their place in the final for the first time.

9’ - YEPES CHANCE! . Barrientos' free-kick is headed over narrowly by Yepes.

18’ - AUCKLAND EFFORT! De Vries tries his luck from 25 yards but hammers his shot wide.

21’ - GOOD SAVE! Cauteruccio is through on goal and from a tight angle shoots towards the near post but his effort is blocked by the keeper.

45’+1 - GOAL! San Lorenzo 1-0 Auckland City. Great move down the left, the ball is cut back for Barrientos who fires the ball into the bottom corner.

62’ - MISSED CHANCE! What a chance. From a free-kick, Kannemann is unmarked but fails to get his header on target from eight yards.

67’ - GOAL! San Lorenzo 1-1 Auckland City. Berlanga squeezes the ball into the corner after the keeper can only parry Tade's effort.

73’ - SAN LORENZO EFFORT! San Lorenzo have a free-kick which is whipped kin and substitute Romagnoli's header is saved.

75’ - WOODWORK! Cauteruccio with a sublime piece of skill to lift the ball over the defender before cracking a volley against the crossbar.

76’ - MISSED OPPORTUNITY! Auckland have a break, the ball falls to Tade who only has the keeper to beat - but he chips the ball over! What a chance.

93’ - GOAL! San Lorenzo 2-1 Auckland City. Substitute Matos drives the ball in from close range after a lovely ball into the box.

101’ - SAN LORENZO CHANCE! Cauteruccio is through on goal but his fierce effort is beaten away by the keeper, he should have sown the game up.

111’ - WOODWORK! Auckland hit the post through Payne's low effort from 20 yards, so close.

How concerned will Real Madrid be with San Lorenzo after this display? Carlo Ancelotti’s in-form side will not lose any sleep. The Argentines scraped to victory over a part-time side. Defensively they looked solid but they looked woefully short of creativity until Leandro Romagnoli came on. Their goals came from slick passing moves but overall they are a shadow of the side that won the Copa Libertadores after selling their star names.

Pablo Barrientos (San Lorenzo): The midfielder took his goal well and was involved in the second which led to Matos’ winner. He was the only attacking player who started the game to impress for the Argentine side despite a lack of support. 

San Lorenzo: Torrico 5, Buffarini 5, Yepes 6, Kannemann 6, Mas 5, Mercier 6, Ortigoza 6, Kalinski 4, Barrientos 8, Verón 7, Cauteruccio 6. Subs: Romagnoli 6, Matos 8, Quignon 5.

Auckland City: Williams 6, Berlanga 8, Dordevic 6, Irving 5, Iwata 6, Vicelich 5, Payne 5, Bilen 5, De Vries 6, Tavano 6, Tade 6. Subs: Browne 5, Burfoot 5, Issa 5.