Chelsea avoid Corinthians in Club World Cup semi-finals

19 May 2012 Chelsea players celebrate after beating Bayern Munich to claim their first ever Champions League title. A dramatic game ended in a penalty shootout, with Didier Drogba scoring the decisive kick. (GETTY IMAGES)

European champions Chelsea will face either Monterrey of Mexico or the winners of the Asian Champions League in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup following the draw for the tournament yesterday.

Roberto Di Matteo's side received a bye in the first round of the competition, which is to be held in Japan from 6 to 16 December, and will enter at the semi-final stage on 13 December.

The Asian champions will be decided in early November. The champions of the Japanese J-League, which ends on 1 December, will open the tournament against New Zealand's Auckland City at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. With eight games remaining in the J-League, Sanfrecce Hiroshima lead Vegalta Sendai by two points and former Asian champions Urawa Reds are a further three points back.

The winners of that first match will then play the African champions, who will be decided on 10 November with the victors going on to face Copa Libertadores champions Corinthians of Brazil in the last four on 12 December.

The final and the play-off for third place will both be played in Yokohama on 16 December.

Goalline technology will be tested for the first time at the Club World Cup. The two systems being looked at, Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, will be installed at one stadium each in Japan in November for final testing ahead of the eight-match Club World Cup. The goal-line systems are also scheduled for use at Fifa's Confederations Cup in Brazil next June.