Club World Cup

Kashima Antlers 1 - Real Madrid 3

Kashima: Kwoun Suntae; Nishi (Anzai 56’), Jung Seunghyun, Shoji, Yamamoto; Endo (Leandro 82’), Nagaki (Uchida 46’), Leo Silva, Abe; Doi, Serginho. 4-4-2.
Madrid: Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Marcos Llorente, Kroos; Lucas Vázquez (Isco 68’), Benzema, Bale (Marco Asensio 65’, Casemiro 74’). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 43. Bale. Picked up return Marcelo pass and fired shot in off far post.
0-2. 53. Bale. Intercepted poor Jung clearance and turned ball into empty net.
0-3. 55. Bale. Collected Marcelo pass and struck angled shot past Kwoun.
1-3. 77. Doi. Controlled headed pass and ran through to score from tight angle.

Yellow cards: Dani Carvajal 42’, Yamamoto 52’.

Real Madrid are on track for their third world title in a row and the fourth in their history after beating Kashima Antlers 1-3 in their Club World Cup semi-final. Courtois had to make early saves from Serginho and Doi as the Japanese side looked to surprise their opponents, but Madrid were soon on top, Gareth Bale giving them a first half lead after combining with Marcelo just before the break. And only ten minutes after the restart Bale added two more to complete a hat-trick, the first after some shaky defending gifted him an open goal, and the second from another Marcelo assist. Yamamoto cleared off the line from Benzema in between, and Lucas Vázquez in particular failed to convert a fourth later on, but Solari’s side slowed down after that, and Doi got one back after the VAR system confirmed that there was no offside in the build up to his goal. Madrid’s opponents in Saturday’s final will be local champions Al Ain, who surprisingly won through against Wellington, Espérance and finally River Plate.