Liverpool faces Monterrey in Club World Cup semifinals

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring against Burnley during the English Premier League soccer match at Turf Moor, Burnley, England, Saturday Aug. 31, 2019. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — European champion Liverpool will play North American champion Monterrey in the semifinals of the Club World Cup in Qatar, while Flamengo faces Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal.

Monterrey held on for a 3-2 win over Al Sadd on Saturday, with Abdelkarim Hassan’s 89th-minute goal for the Qatari club setting up a nervy finish.

Leonel Vangioni, Rogelio Funes and Carlos Rodriguez scored for Monterrey.

The Mexican team plays Liverpool on Dec. 18, with South American champion Flamengo taking on Al Hilal a day earlier.

Al Hilal, the Asian champions, beat CAF Champions League winner Espérance Sportive de Tunis 1-0 with a fine goal from French forward Bafétimbi Gomis in the 73rd minute.

Al Hilal’s Mohamed Kanno was sent off late with a second yellow card.

The final is on Dec. 21 at the Khalifa International Stadium.

By Associated Press

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