Football: Auckland rally for medal push

Auckland City FC's Ryan De Vries dribbles past San Lorenzo goalkeeper Sebastian Torrico during the semi final soccer match between Auckland City FC and San Lorenzo. Photo / AP.

Auckland City FC hope to sign off their fairytale FIFA Club World Cup adventure with an upset win over Cruz Azul in the third place match tomorrow in Marrakech.

Cruz Azul, who lost 4-0 to Real Madrid in the semi-finals, are CONCACAF Champions League winners and themselves have targeted a winning end to their own campaign with the match sold out at the 45,000 capacity Marrakech Stadium.

The Mexicans defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 after extra time in a waterlogged quarter-final a week ago and despite being outclassed by Real Madrid's Galaticos, feature a star studded line-up of their own.

Skipper Gerrardo Torrado, 35, has 146 caps for the Mexican national team playing for a club that has won eight domestic championships and, like the Auckland, six continental titles.

26-year-old Argentina international striker Mauro Formica has experience of the English top flight. Any thought this match is of no consequence was dismissed by Cruz Azul coach Luis Fernando Tena.

"We are aware of the significance of finishing in third place. We want to go into the game with a strong will to win as it's a very important match for us," he said.

Also at stake is even more prize money - another $640,000 USD to add to the Navy Blues already impressive $2,000,000 USD prize pool they will share with New Zealand Football and their fellow ASB Premiership clubs.

That, alongside the potential of winning an historic first ever bronze medal at a FIFA world event by an Oceania side in the post-Australia era, are not the priorities according to coach Ramon Tribulietx who says its vital his team remain process focussed.

"The third place match is our next step. No one expected us to win the first game, or the second game, and push San Lorenzo to the limit. For a club like us, that's unbelievable.

"No one expected that to happen, and its happened because a lot of people have put a lot of effort into it. From the coaching staff, to the club, and especially the players.

"Hopefully we have gained some reputation from this tournament. New Zealand is a rugby country but that does not mean we are not prepared to come over here to compete at football's Club World Cup.

"If we didn't prepare for a FIFA Club World Cup we would be mad, I said that last year. We prepared as well as we could, tactically, physically, making sure that we learn everything about our opponents.

"I hope that our reputation grows up now and we gain some respect from the world of football," he said.

The third place match is the curtain raiser to the FIFA Club World Cup Final between Real Madrid and San Lorenzo, a match Auckland City FC came so agonisingly close to qualifying for just three days ago.

Auckland City FC will be without the services of outstanding defender Angel Berlanga, who after picking up his second yellow card of the competition against San Lorenzo, is suspended.

Midfielder Daewook Kim trained at full capacity and now looks available for selection while striker Joao Moreira continues rehabilitation from his leg break.