Guerrero pounced decisively on 69 minutes to deny Rafa Benitez his first trophy as Chelsea boss as the European champions finished with 10 men after Gary Cahill was sent off late on.
Goalline technology has been available in the competition and it almost came into use on 10 minutes when Cahill's prodded shot was stopped on the line by Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio.
The first half lacked any real tempo as Corinthians did well to stifle Chelsea, although the Brazilians did carry a threat, with Emerson wastefully blazing over on 29 minutes after Cahill had failed to cut out Guerrero's pass.
Guerrero wriggled free from the Chelsea defence on 35 minutes, but scuffed his shot off target and Emerson fired the loose ball against the base of the post from an acute angle.
Chelsea perked up in the final 10 minutes of the opening period and Fernando Torres showed excellent control to bring down Frank Lampard's long ball before hitting a tame volley at Cassio.
The Corinthians keeper then produced the save of the half, diving full length to tip Victor Moses' curler around the post before making a more routine stop from Juan Mata's dipping drive.
The second half started much livelier and Cassio was again called into action on 54 minutes as he rushed out to thwart Eden Hazard following a fine through ball from Mata.
Paulinho flashed a shot wide before Corinthians made the breakthrough on 69 minutes as the unmarked Guerrero headed home from close range after Danilo's shot had looped into the air off Cahill.
Benitez threw on Oscar in search of an equaliser and the golden chance arrived four minutes from time when the ball broke to the unmarked Torres six yards out, but the Spanish striker could only drill his shot at Cassio's legs.
Cahill was shown a red card in the last minute after an off-the-ball incident involving Emerson before Torres was rightly denied the equaliser by the offside flag after he had glanced home Oscar's ball into the box.
Chelsea departed for the FIFA World Club Championship on a high note after defeating Sunderland 4 -1 at the Stadium of Light.
Then began brightly in the tournament by thrashing Monterrey 4 - 1 also with Fernando Torres getting on the score sheet.
Chelsea's victory over Monterrey sent them into the finals against the South American champions Corinthians.
Chelsea became the seventh European club to reach the final of the competition since its inception as the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000. The competition was formerly known as the Toyota Inter Continental Cup.
The defeat to the South American Club made them the third European club to loose at the final of the competition after Liverpool in 2005 and Barcelona in 2006. Making Manchester United the only English clubs to have won the trophy in 2008.
Chelsea fans will be disappointed in Torres for not being able to deliver when needed.
With Chelsea loosing another chance of winning a major trophy after loosing the UEFA Super Cup,and being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League.
The Chelsea players will be feeling the heat after many soccer pundit suggested that Chelsea achieved so much success last season by luck and the presence of Didier Drogba in the team.
But more pressure will be on Rafa Benitez who was brought in to replace Roberto Di Matteo and help the team replicate their last season achievements.
As the team return back to London empty handed from Japan, it may just be another day at the office, using the words of former Chelsea manger AVB.
How much longer will the Spanish pair of Fernando Torres and Rafa Benitez remain at the Bridge? Only Abramovich will tell.
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