Barca outclass Mexican opponents

European champions Barcelona cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over Mexico's Club America on Thursday to book their spot in Sunday's final of the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will meet South American counterparts Internacional.

Goals from Eidur Gudjohnsen and Rafael Marquez in the opening 30 minutes and second-half strikes from Ronaldinho and Deco saw Frank Rijkaard's side easily dispose of the Concacaf Champions Cup holders in front of over 60,000 fans.

The win keeps alive Barcelona's hopes of winning the intercontinental championship for the first time in their illustrious history.

Johann Cruyff's team lost to Sao Paulo in 1992 in the Catalan club's only other participation in the Toyota Cup, the Club World Cup's predecessor, which was played solely between the champions of South America and Europe.

Barcelona's victory also means those two continents will retain their positions of dominance over the other four confederations as they face off in yet another showpiece.

The presence of Ronaldinho and company in the final was in little doubt from as early as the 11th minute, when Gudjohnsen finished off a move of the highest quality to give Barcelona the lead.

Brazil-born Portugal playmaker Deco played the ball into Ronaldinho, whose back-flick into the path of Andres Iniesta was rolled into Gudjohnsen's path and the former Chelsea man made no mistake with his first-time effort, beating Guillermo Ochoa low and to his left.

Try as they might, Club America were no match for the European champions, even though Salvador Cabanas' 23rd-minute free-kick forced a low save out of Victor Valdes after the ball arced over the defensive wall.

Italian World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta went close to doubling his side's lead two minutes later when his right-footed drive from just outside the area curled away from goal.

But Barcelona only had to wait another five minutes to go further ahead as Marquez headed home against his countrymen when he glanced Deco's inviting inswinging corner beyond Ochoa.

As the drizzle continued to engulf the Yokohama International Stadium in the second half so Barca retained control of the game, with Ronaldinho going close seven minutes after the restart when his attempt was kept out by Ochoa.

The two-time World Player of the Year was not to be denied in the 65th minute, though, picking his spot high in the Club America goal after Ochoa had parried Ludovic Giuly's shot back into the middle of the penalty area.

Substitute Raul Alvin Mendoza almost claimed a consolation for Club America seven minutes from time, but his close-range effort was steered around the post by Valdes.

And Deco completed the rout just a minute later with a sweetly struck effort from 20 yards out that gave the sprawling Ochoa no chance.