Tokyo, Japan (My Sportsbook) - Neri Cardozo's goal in the 37th minute was enough to lift Boca Juniors to a 1-0 win over Etoile Sahel in the semifinals of the Club World Cup on Wednesday. The win allows the Argentine side to advance to Sunday's final, where they will meet either AC Milan or Urawa Reds, who play in the other semifinal on Thursday. Rodrigo Palacio set up the Cardozo goal as he played a great ball to the midfielder, who knocked it home from close range. Boca was in control of the match throughout but missed a number of chances to extend its lead after Cardozo's tally. Gabriel Paletta missed an open header with keeper Aymen Balbouli out of position, and even after midfielder Fabian Vargas was sent off in the 65th minute for receiving a second yellow card, Boca had the better of the play. Vargas came in strong on Etoile's Mahdi Ben Dhifallah to earn his marching orders, but Boca's Martin Palermo missed by inches in an attempt to double the lead before Alvaro Gonzalez was brought down inside the area but did not receive a spot kick. Boca will attempt to become the third South American side to win the new-look Club World Cup, joining Brazilian clubs Sao Paulo and Internacional, who claimed the first two crowns in this competition by beating the European champion.
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