Chelsea were defeated 1-0 in the Club World Cup final against a stifling Corinthians side in Japan.
Paolo Guerrero's header in the 70th minute decided a dull contest in which Rafael Benítez's side struggled to showcase the rhythm which was on display in their semi-final victory over Monterrey on Thursday.
Corinthians 1-0 Chelsea
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (C) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (L) celebrates after scoring a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero reacts after missing a shoot during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Supporters cheer Brazil's Corinthians before their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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English Premier League team Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (front L) fights with Brazil's Corinthians defender Alessandro (R) beside Chelsea forward Juan Mata (2nd L) and Corinthians defender Paulo Andre (top) before their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Supporters cheer Brazil's Corinthians cheer before their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Supporters cheer English Premier League team Chelsea before their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against Brazil's Corinthians in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Supporters cheer Brazil's Corinthians cheer before their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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English Premier League team Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (C) fights with Brazil's Corinthians defender Alessandro (R) beside Chelsea forward Juan Mata (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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England's Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (R) dribbles the ball beside Brazil's Corinthians players during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians midfieldrer Paulinho (C) fights for the ball with English Premier League team Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (L) and midfielder Eden Hazard (R) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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English Premier League team Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (C) fights for the ball against Brazil's Corinthians during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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English Premier League team Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard (L) fights for the ball with Brazil's Corinthians defender Chicao (R) beside Chelsea forward Juan Mata (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Supporters cheer Brazil's Corinthians cheer before their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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English Premier League team Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard (L) fights for the ball with Brazil's Corinthians defender Chicao (R) beside Chelsea forward Juan Mata (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match against English Premier League team Chelsea in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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English Premier League team Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (R) shoots the ball beside Chelsea forward Victor Moses (C) and Brazil's Corinthians defender Paulo Andre (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Emerson (L) and English Premier League team Chelsea defender David Luiz (R) fight for the ball during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (front) fights for the ball with English Premier League team Chelsea defender David Luiz (top) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (R) scores a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Emerson (L) fights for the ball with England's Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (R) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (C) shoots the ball between English Premier League team Chelsea defender Ashley Cole (L) and defender Gary Cahill (R) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (C) reacts after scoring a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (R) celebrates with his teammate after scoring a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero celebrates after scoring a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero celebrates after scoring a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero reacts after his miss shoot against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (C) fights for the ball with English Premier League team Chelsea defender Gary Cahill (L) and defender David Luiz (R) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LEngland's Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (L) controls the ball in front of Brazil's Corinthians defender Chicao (R) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (2nd L) shoots the ball against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio (L) catches the ball beside Corinthians defender Chicao (2nd L) and English Premier League team Chelsea forward Victor Moses (C) and defender Gary Cahill (R 24) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (C) shoots the ball against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians defender Paulo Andre (R) clears the ball in front of England's Chelsea forward Victor Moses (C) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (R) fights with English Premier League team Chelsea defender Gary Cahill (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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English Premier League team Chelsea defender David Luiz (R) fights for the ball with Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero (C) fights with English Premier League team Chelsea defender Gary Cahill (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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England's Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (R) watches the ball in front of Brazil's Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio (L) during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero celebrates after scoring a goal against English Premier League team Chelsea during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's Corinthians forward Emerson (R) and English Premier League team Chelsea defender David Luiz (L) fight for the ball during their 2012 Club World Cup football final match at Yokohama on December 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Fernando Torres missed a presentable chance to equalise when five yards out but his effort was repelled by the Corinthians goalkeeper. Defender Gary Cahill then became the second English club player to be sent off in the final, four years after Manchester's United's Nemanja Vidić was against Liga de Quinto.
Torres also had a goal ruled out for offside as the Blues endeavoured to force extra-time but Corinthians closed the game out to win the competition for the first time since 2000.