Club World Cup

Kashima Antlers 2 - Real Madrid 4 (after extra time)

Kashima: Sogahata; Daigo Nishi, Ueda, Shoji, Shuto Yamamoto; Endo (Ito 102’), Ogasawara (Fabricio 67’), Nagaki (Akasaki 114’), Shibasaki; Shoma Doi (Yuma 88’), Mu Kanazaki. 4-4-2.
Madrid: Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos (Nacho ‘), Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Lucas Vázquez (Isco 81’), Benzema, Ronaldo (Morata 112’). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 09. Benzema. Fired shot back past Sogahata after keeper saved from Modric.
1-1. 43. Shibasaki. Controlled Shoma centre and turned angled shot past Navas.
2-1. 52. Shibasaki. Intercepted Ramos clearance and struck long shot in to net.
2-2. 60. Ronaldo (penalty). After Yamamoto brought down Lucas Vázquez in area.
2-3. 98. Ronaldo. Picked up Benzema pass and steered shot wide of keeper.
2-4. 104. Ronaldo. Struck shot past keeper after Kroos played ball through to him.

Yellow cards: Sergio Ramos 55’, Yamamoto 58’, Fabricio 93’, Casemiro 100’, Dani Carvajal 102’.

Real Madrid are World champions for the second time after they beat Kashima Antlers 2-4 in this year’s final in Yokohama! The Liga side were clear favourites, and they appeared to be on track for an easy win when Benzema opened the scoring in only the ninth minute after Sogahata could only push out a shot from Modric. However just before the break Shibasaki levelled the scores with a shot on the turn past Keylor Navas, and some seven minutes in to the second half the team captain got his second of the match with a long shot wide of the Costa Rican keeper. Ronaldo made it all square again from the penalty spot after Yamamoto brought down Lucas Vázquez a few minutes later, but with full time approaching the locals failed to convert two or three chances to win it. However in the first half of extra time Ronaldo scored twice from Benzema and Kroos assists to complete another hat-trick and give Zinedine Zidane his third international title since taking over from Rafa Benítez just under a year ago.