Sports

Kashima reaches Club World Cup semis

December 15, 2018
Guadalajara's Michael Perez (C) fights for the ball with Kashima Antler's midfielder Shoma Doi (L) during their FIFA Club World Cup 2018 match at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi Saturday. — AFP
Guadalajara's Michael Perez (C) fights for the ball with Kashima Antler's midfielder Shoma Doi (L) during their FIFA Club World Cup 2018 match at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi Saturday. — AFP

AL AIN, UAE — Japan's Kashima Antlers recovered from a goal down to beat Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara 3-2 in their Club World Cup quarterfinal in the United Arab Emirates Saturday.

Substitute Hiroki Abe sealed the comeback with the third goal in the 84th minute, setting up a semifinal against European champions Real Madrid Wednesday.

Kashima's Ryota Nagaki cancelled out Angel Zaldivar's early opener soon after the break before Serginho made it 2-1 with a penalty and Abe extended the lead before a late own goal.

Guadalajara, the CONCACAF champion, took the lead in the third minute when forward Zaldivar headed a Javier Lopez cross into the top corner of the net.

Kashima goalkeeper Kwoun Suntae saved a close-range Zaldivar strike in the 40th minute after the Asian champions failed to clear the penalty area from a deep Guadalajara throw-in.

The Mexicans had another chance to go two goals up moments later when midfielder Orbelin Pineda hit the bar with a shot from outside the box in the 45th minute.

Kashima started with greater intensity in the second half, leveling in the 49th when Nagaki put away Shoma Doi's pass.

Brazilian Serginho sent Guadalajara goalkeeper Raul Gudino the wrong way from the penalty spot to put the Asian champions ahead in the 69th minute.

Abe's strike from the left-hand side of the box into the top corner made the score more comfortable for the Asian champion.

Guadalajara got back to 3-2 in the dying minutes when Kashima's Leo Silva put the ball into his own net after Suntae had saved an Alan Pulido penalty awarded by VAR.

Wednesday's clash between the European and Asian champion will be a rematch of the 2016 Club World Cup final when Real Madrid beat Kashima 4-2 after extra time.

"This match is going to garner a lot of attention," said Kashima coach Go Oiwa. "We'll play aggressively and we'll play our own football from the very beginning against Real Madrid." — Reuters


December 15, 2018
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