Al Ain: AFC Champions League winners Kashima Antlers of Japan battled back from a goal down to beat CONCACAF champions CD Guadalajara of Mexico 3-2 to book a FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 semi-final against Real Madrid.
In 2016, Kashima lost to Los Blancos in the FIFA Club World Cup final and now, thanks to second-half goals by Ryota Nagaki, Serginho and Hiroki Abe, they will have the opportunity to renew rivalries in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Asian champions had fallen at the first hurdle of the tournament in four of the past six years but Kashima avoided the same fate as Urawa Red Diamonds (2017), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2016), Western Sydney Wanderers (2014) and Ulsan Hyundai Motors (2012) with a spirited showing at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
It started badly for the Japanese side as Guadalajara took the lead after just three minutes when Isaac Brizuela's right-wing cross was met by the head of Angel Zaldivar. Kashima goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae managed to get a hand to the ball but failed to keep it out as the small pocket of Mexican fans in Al Ain celebrated wildly.
Guadalajara coach Jose Cardozo had praised Kashima for being “dynamic and good in attack” ahead of the game but it was his side that demonstrated considerably more energy in the first half.
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??@atlrs_english 3-2 @Chivas??A second-half comeback saw the Asian champions set up a reunion with @realmadriden in a repeat of the 2016 final ?? pic.twitter.com/CbscNj5S0U
— #ClubWC (@FIFAcom) December 15, 2018
Looking hungrier, the Mexicans pressed high up the pitch and restricted Kashima’s impact in the final third. The Asian champions offered little going forward in the first 45, beyond a tame shot by Leandro that was straight at goalkeeper Raul Gudino.
Kashima were fortunate not to be two down at half-time, Sun-tae producing an impressive save to deny Zaldivar a second goal from close range, while Orbelin Pineda’s curling shot hit the crossbar just before the interval.
But Go Oiwa’s team rallied in the second-half and were level just four minutes after the restart. A swift counter-attack ended with Shoma Doi squaring from the left-wing to midfielder Nagaki, who turned in the cross at the back post.
Kashima were showing infinitely more ambition going forward and when Shoma Doi was fouled by Michael Perez in the penalty area, Serginho converted his spot-kick to make it 2-1. The Brazilian calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, slotting into the bottom left corner.
As Guadalajara pushed for an equaliser, Kashima punished them again on the counter. The ball broke to substitute Hiroki Abe on the edge of the area and he curled a superb effort into the top right corner to seal Kashima’s progress.
Alan Pulido's 93rd minute goal for the Mexicans, a rebound after Sun-tae saved his penalty, couldn't take the gloss of a big win for Kashima, who now face Real Madrid in a mouthwatering clash in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Guadalajara, in contrast, must make do with a fifth-place playoff against the losers of Esperance vs Al Ain. That match takes place in Al Ain on Tuesday.
Kashima coach Oiwa had said before the game that he wanted “to go all the way this time” in the FIFA Club World Cup and victory ensures that dream lives on.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
Source: the-afc.com