Dutch substitute Alex Schalk scored the winner as Japan's Asian champion Urawa Reds saw off 10-man CONCACAF winners Club Leon of Mexico 1-0 to reach the last four of the Club World Cup on Friday.
The win at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, set up a semifinal meeting with European champions Manchester City of England on Tuesday when Urawa will look to make the final for the first time in their third tournament appearance.
"To be playing on this stage is already something special. To come on and have an impact, it's a dream," forward Schalk told FIFA after scoring the 78th-minute winner, five minutes after his introduction.
"I think I did well. I came on and did my best. Fortunately, I managed to score."
"I think we deserved the win today. I thought we were the better side. And, obviously, I'm delighted it was me who made the difference."
Fidel Ambriz fired narrowly over from distance in the seventh minute for Leon, while Urawa's Tomoaki Okubo failed to score in a one-on-one with opposing keeper Rodolfo Cota in the 19th minute following a long through ball from fellow midfielder Yoshio Koizumi.
Japan midfielder Atuski Ito could not hit the target from close range nine minutes into the second half for Urawa but Schalk took his chance for the winner as he squeezed in a low effort past Cota, set up in the box by Guinea forward Jose Kante.
Leon defender William Tesillo was sent off with six minutes to go for a second yellow and although Schalk's ensuing free-kick from the edge of the area was deflected narrowly wide, Urawa saw the game out to set up a challenging encounter with the tournament favorites.
"(Manchester City) are extremely difficult opponents, but you never know in football," said Urawa's former Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai, who had right knee surgery early in November and was expected to be ruled out for three months but made a surprise return against Leon as an 81st-minute substitute.
Urawa, making their first appearance since the 2017 tournament, reached the last four for the second time. Their previous semifinal ended in a 1-0 defeat to Milan in 2007.
African champions Al Ahly of Egypt beat Saudi Arabia's host representatives Al Ittihad 3-1, setting up a semifinal with South American champions Fluminense of Brazil.
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