Club World Cup Semifinal Preview: Kashiwa Reysol - Santos

Posted Tuesday, December 13, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Kashiwa Reysol will be coming into the match high on adrenaline but low on rest after needing 120 minutes and penalty kicks to defeat CONCACAF champion Monterrey in the quarterfinals on Sunday night. Manager Nelsinho used just one substitute in the match and aside from goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno, none of the team's usual starters practiced on Monday. Star defender Hiroki Sakai was an injury concern after receiving a knock to his knee in the playoff match against Auckland City but played the full match against Monterrey and should be good to go on Wednesday.

The only change from Santos' habitual lineup sees Leo give his place up to Bruno Rodrigo. The 36-year-old loses out due to his struggles with fitness during the second half of the season, and Edu Dracena moves out to left back to accommodate Rodrigo in the first XI. Elsewhere Peixe stars Ganso, Neymar and Elano are all in peak condition, and Brasileirao top-scorer Borges also starts up front.

Santos has never appeared in the revamped Club World Cup, but won the tournament twice in its previous incarnation as the Intercontinental Cup, in 1962 and 1963.
The Brazilians won their place in Japan by lifting the 2011 Copa Libertadores, beating Penarol 2-1 thanks to goals from Danilo and Neymar.
This competition will be the fifth the Peixe have featured in this year, after the Paulista Championship, Libertadores, Copa do Brasil and the Brasileirao. Neymar meanwhile will be competing in his seventh, after previously playing the Copa America and South American Under-20 Championship for Brazil.
Kashiwa Reysol manager Nelsinho Baptista knows Wednesday's opponent well. The Brazilian lifted the 1978 Paulista title as a player with the club, and also had a short spell as coach in 2005.

The team is the third Japanese side to qualify for the Club World Cup semifinals. Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds also reached the penultimate stage in previous years. Both lost in the semifinals before winning their third place match.

Reysol's presence in the last-four is remarkable, considering that just one year ago the club was in J League's second division. It marked its return to the top flight in 2011 with an instant title triumph, becoming the first team ever in Japan to experience back-to-back second and first tier successes.