**River Plate Book Place in FIFA Club World Cup Final After Narrow Win Over Sanfrecce Hiroshima**
Argentinian giants River Plate secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015 on Wednesday in Osaka.
The decisive moment came in the 72nd minute when River Plate’s Alario found the net, giving Marcelo Gallardo’s side the lead. Despite creating several scoring opportunities throughout the match, River Plate had to defend their slender advantage until the final whistle.
The team now awaits its opponent in the final, which will be determined after the second semi-final clash between FC Barcelona and Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande, scheduled for Thursday.
Meanwhile, African representatives TP Mazembe ended their tournament in disappointment, losing 2-1 to Club America in the fifth-place playoff. The Congolese side struggled to recover after conceding early goals, with only Kalaba’s strike providing a consolation.
The final promises to be a high-profile affair, with River Plate aiming to continue their impressive run in the tournament.
