Two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC fell to multiple-time La Liga champions FC Barcelona, 3-0, in a high-profile semifinal match of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan on Thursday.

Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez shut out the Southern China Tigers with a hat trick at the 39th, 50th, and 67th minutes, with the final goal via a penalty kick, Xinhuanet reports.

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Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi was not able to compete due to abdominal pain from renal colic while Seleção captain Neymar also joined the team on the bench but did not play as he is still recuperating from a groin injury.

With Barça's top two players virtually sidelined, it was Enrique's third weapon, namesake Suárez, who poured in the points for the Spanish top flight giants.

The FIFA website noted that the five-time "UEFA Champions League winners were rarely troubled by their counterparts from Asia" even with "two-thirds of 'MSN'" unavailable in the matchup.

Guangzhou's defense held on in the first minutes of the opening half as Evergrande goalkeeper Li Shuai stopped two early chances from the Catalonia side with two excellent passes from team captain Andres Iniesta to forward Munir El Haddadi and defender Dani Alves.

Another brilliant cross from Iniesta to Munir almost found the back of the net a little over the half hour mark, but the header was just wide.

In the game's unfortunate moment, Evergrande defender Zou Zheng was taken off the field in a stretcher after a rough collision with Alves at the 35th minute.

Four minutes later, the 28-year-old Uruguay international began his three-goal haul via a rebound play from another Li deflection off an Ivan Rakitic strike.

The Tigers continued to fight hard despite the goal and almost found an equalizer before the halftime break when Brazilian striker Elkeson's header was saved by Barça's Chilean goalie Claudio Bravo.

With the win, Barcelona is set to face Argentina's Club Atlético River Plate in the final while Guangzhou settles for a meeting with Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the match for third place.

TagsChina Football News, China Football News 2015, China Football 2015, 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, 2015 FIFA Club World Cup semifinals, FC Barcelona vs Guangzhou Evergrande, luis suarez