The Western Sydney Wanderers’ frustrating Club World Cup campaign ended with a loss on penalties to African champions ES Setif of Algeria in the play-off for fifth place in Marrakesh.
Meanwhile, Auckland City’s fairytale run came to end in the semi-finals following a 2-1 defeat to Argentina’s San Lorenzo in extra time.
Wanderers imports Romeo Castelan and Vitor Saba scored brilliant goals in either half, as the match was locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes.
With no extra time played in the fifth-place play-off, back-up goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis made three saves in a marathon penalty shoot-out but was also one of four Wanderers players to miss a spot kick as ET Setif claimed the win.
The defeat ended a tumultuous campaign which featured threats of a player strike over prize money and a controversial 3-1 extra time loss to Mexican side Cruz Azul in the quarter-finals.
The Wanderers still take home $1.2 million in prizemoney for finishing sixth.
The Wanderers will now return to Australia to focus on reversing their poor A-League form, which has them sitting last after 10 rounds.