Barcelona winger Rodriguez scores in 3-1 world club cup semi-final win over atlante to become first player in history to score in six different competitions in one year
Barcelona winger Rodriguez scores in 3-1 world club cup semi-final win over atlante to become first player in history to score in six different competitions in one year
Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez paid tribute to his teammates after becoming the first player in history to score in six different competitions in the same year.
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Barca's Pedro Rodriguez shoots to score against Atlante during their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Barcelona won 3-1. pic/AFP |
Pedro struck Barca's final goal in their 3-1 win over Atlante in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, not only helping to keep the European champions on course for a sixth title of 2009 but also securing himself a place in the record books.
The young winger had not struck a senior goal for Barca prior to August but since then he has scored in the Primera Division, Champions League, Copa del Rey, and both the European and Spanish Supercups, and he completed the set against Atlante after firing home from close range following superb work by Andres Iniesta.
Pedro (22) was keen to praise the role his teammates played, saying: "Without the work they've done, I wouldn't have been able to do this."
Guillermo Rojas shot Atlante into a surprise fifth-minute lead with Sergio Busquets dragging Barca back on level terms 10 minutes from the break.
Second-half substitute Lionel Messi put the Spanish giants ahead in the 55th minute with Pedro wrapping up the semi-final in the 67th minute in front of 41,000 fans at the Zayed Sports City stadium.
In Saturday's final, Barcelona meet Argentine side Estudiantes, who beat South Korea's Pohang Steelers 2-1 in the other semi-final.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola said: "It was a difficult game. Atlante are a quality side.
"They pass the ball well and have a lot of speed. But I think we were the better team and the result reflected that. The support we received was absolutely fantastic.
With the Estudiantes fans and our followers, the final will be a wonderful spectacle."
