Defending champions Real Madrid cruised into the Club World Cup final with a 3-1 win over Kashima Antlers that was inspired by Gareth Bale.
2018 Club World Cup
1-3
Match Report
Gareth Bale fired Real Madrid into a record-equalling fourth Club World Cup final with a stunning hat-trick in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Kashima Antlers in Abu Dhabi.
Madrid are looking to become the first club to win the tournament on four occasions, and Bale's superb treble ensured that dream remains a possibility as the AFC Champions League winners were swept aside.
Match Events
44'GOAL! Kashima Antlers 0-1 Real Madrid (Bale)
REAL MADRID HAVE THE BREAKTHROUGH! 1-0! Bale has been a key figure at the Club World Cup in years past for Real Madrid, and he opens the scoring on the stroke of half-time, latching onto a Marcelo throughball before slotting a terrific finish off the far post and in from a tricky angle!
49' Benzema's shot cleared by Yamamoto at the goal-line
HUGE CHANCE! Real Madrid nearly put the match to bed as Benzema beats Kwoun with a lovely reverse strike from eight yards, but Yamamoto sprints across to clear it off the line! Outstanding piece of defending!
53'GOAL! Kashima Antlers 0-2 Real Madrid (Bale)
REAL MADRID DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! 2-0! Kashima the architects of their own downfall here following a horrific back-pass from Yamamoto! Jung touched the ball past his own goalkeeper trying to intercept it ahead of Bale, but the Welshman reacted quickly to tap home into an unguarded net.
55'GOAL! Kashima Antlers 0-3 Real Madrid (Bale)
REAL MADRID DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! 2-0! Kashima the architects of their own downfall here following a horrific back-pass from Yamamoto! Jung touched the ball past his own goalkeeper trying to intercept it ahead of Bale, but the Welshman reacted quickly to tap home into an unguarded net.
78'GOAL! Kashima Antlers 1-3 Real Madrid (Doi)
CONSOLATION FOR KASHIMA! 3-1! The goal stands as Endo was onside as he did so well there to drop a header into the path of Doi, with the striker applying a smart finish under Courtois.
Line-ups
Kashima Antlers XI: Y. Endo, Léo Silva, Daigo Nishi, Kwoun Sun-Tae, S. Yamamoto, R. Nagaki, G. Shōji, S. Doi, Serginho, Jung Seung-Hyeon, H. Abe
Subs: M. Ogasawara, H. Sogahata, A. Uchida, S. Kawamata, Leandro, T. Inukai, T. Kanamori, Koki Anzai, K. Kubota, T. Tanaka, K. Machida, K. Yamaguchi
Real Madrid XI: Sergio Ramos, L. Modrić, Benzema, Bale, T. Kroos, Marcelo, T. Courtois, Daniel Carvajal, R. Varane, Lucas Vázquez, M.Llorente
Subs: Kiko Casilla, K. Navas, Casemiro, Isco, Nacho, Álvaro Odriozola, J.Vallejo, Marco Asensio, Ceballos, Reguilón, Valverde, Vinícius Júnior