Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Chelsea FC will face SC Corinthians Paulista for the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday after seeing off Mexico's CF Monterrey 3-1 in Yokohama.

The first London side ever to compete for the global title after their UEFA Champions League triumph last season, Chelsea went ahead before the interval through Juan Mata. In the opening three minutes of the second half a deflected Fernando Torres effort and a Dárvin Chávez own goal ensured their place in the decider.

Monterrey, who won their second straight CONCACAF Champions League last season, reached the semi-finals in Japan by beating Asian representatives Ulsan FC of South Korea 3-1, but were on the defensive from the start against a Chelsea team deploying David Luiz in midfield. Mata, who also scored on his Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League debuts for Chelsea, broke the deadlock on 17 minutes after being set up by Oscar and Ashley Cole.

It remained 1-0 at half-time but the lead was soon trebled. Less than 20 seconds had elapsed from the restart when Eden Hazard cut back to Torres, whose effort ricocheted into the net. Two minutes later Torres sent Mata through down the right and his cross was turned in by the luckless Chávez. Aldo de Nigris pulled one back in added time.

Mata said "I am so glad today. The win, the way that we won, this is a very important tournament for us. We want to win the trophy and be world champions on Sunday."

Manager Rafael Benítez will now aim to win the tournament for the second time in three years having led FC Internazionale Milano to victory in 2010, five years after a loss to São Paulo FC with Liverpool FC. Copa Libertadores holders Corinthians await his side, having overcome African champions al-Ahly SC 1-0 on Wednesday with a goal from former FC Bayern München and Hamburger SV striker José Paolo Guerrero.