It doesn't appear as though there will be any twist in the tale tonight in Abu Dhabi. Kashima are enjoying all the possession at the moment, but they're unexplainably passing it around in midfield, waiting for the perfect chance to get forward. Time is a luxury they don't have right now, though.
90'
There will be a minimum of four minutes added on at the end of this match.
88'
Important tracking from Llorente to get back and intervene to deny Anzai following a clever run from the substitute, as he burst into the area with plenty of pace. These are desperate times for the Antlers, who need something fast if they are to have any chance at providing a bit of late drama.
86'
Close! Benzema is played through on goal smartly by Isco, before dragging a shot towards the far post, but it rolls agonisingly wide of the mark!
84'
Kashima had a spring in their step following Doi's goal, getting forward with a real energy about them, but Real Madrid have quickly put an end to that. Solari's side are passing it around smartly in midfield, essentially playing keep-away as they look to avoid setting themselves up for a nervy finish.
83'
That's the final involvement of the night for Endo, as he gives way for Leandro for the final minutes.
82'
Leandro enters the game and replaces Y. Endo.
78'
S. Doi has scored a goal for Kashima Antlers! Assist by Y. Endo.
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.
Endo, who was the subject of that check from VAR, provides the assist.
76'
With Real Madrid taking their foot off the gas, Kashima are seeing more of the ball, but they have been unable to really provide a threat. They've been made to settle for a couple of corners, with Real Madrid doing well to keep them at arm's length.
Minute
Description
74'
Casemiro enters the game and replaces Marco Asensio.
Asensio entered the match less than 15 minutes ago, and now he's departing with an injury. He appeared to pull a muscle or just tweak something, feeling it right away as he signaled over to the touchline for a change. Casemiro is on to replace him.
70'
Real Madrid continue to attack, asking plenty of the Kashima defence who are clearly shell-shocked. The Japanese outfit defended so well in the first half, but a 15-minute lapse at the back saw Real Madrid put them to the sword and essentially book their place in the final.
68'
Isco enters the game and replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Isco has fallen out of favour under Solari, seeing limited minutes, but he comes on for the final 20 here at the expense of Vazquez.
64'
The final 25 minutes are shaping up to be more of a formality than anything, which is rather shocking considering how brilliantly poised this match was just before Bale's opener on the stroke of half-time.
60'
Marco Asensio enters the game and replaces G. Bale.
Bale's night is over, but not before leaving his mark. The Welshman departs to a thunderous applause, with Asensio taking his place for the final 30 minutes.
58'
Real Madrid have won the Club World Cup three times (2014, 2016 and 2017) and could become the team with the most titles ever, surpassing Barcelona (2009, 2011 and 2015).
56'
K. Anzai enters the game and replaces D. Nishi.
Kashima have been forced into a second change now as Anzai comes on to replace Nishi.
55'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Marcelo.
Another Marcelo assist, as he did well to not rush a pass, allowing Bale to get into space before laying it off for him.
HAT-TRICK FOR BALE! 3-0 REAL MADRID! It's three goals in 11 minutes for Bale, who peels off to the left to get on the end of a pass from Marcelo in the penalty area, before hammering an emphatic finish into the top corner!
53'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Real Madrid!
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.
52'
S. Yamamoto gets yellow.
A bad foul on Vazquez sees Yamamoto pick up the second booking of the night.
48'
Real Madrid are enjoying the better of play in the opening stages of this second half, as they are camped out in possession, looking to add to their lead.
46'
A. Uchida enters the game and replaces R. Nagaki.
Uchida, a right-back, is on for this second half, with Nagaki, a midfielder, replaced. Perhaps this is some insurance to help negate the threat of Bale?
The second half is underway!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: KASHIMA ANTLERS 0-1 REAL MADRID.
45'
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this first half, and the team talks will be a whole lot different for these two managers now following Bale's opener!
44'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Marcelo.
Perfect weight and accuracy on that throughball from Marcelo, who provides the assist.
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!
42'
Dani Carvajal gets yellow.
Carvajal arrives late and catches Nishi on his follow-through, which sees the Real Madrid full-back into the book with the first yellow card of the match.
38'
Nothing comes of it in the end as Leo Silva sails an effort high and wide of the target.
37'
Kashima respond with a good spell of their own in possession, and Leo Silva wins a free-kick on the end of it following a terrific bit of skill, forcing Llorente into a foul. This is in a good position for a shot from 25 yards.
35'
Real Madrid are very much in the ascendancy now, and those last two chances suggest things are starting to open up a bit for them as they look to solve this stubborn Kashima defence.
33'
Well that would have been something! Two chances for Real Madrid, bot from identical locations no more than a minute apart as Ramos and Benzema both send powerful headers towards goal from 15 yards, but neither can steer them on target.
31'
Bale is at it again, showing a terrific burst of pace to sprint beyond Jung and into the penalty area, but he gets it all wrong in the end as his pull-back isn't anywhere near Benzema as the Antlers easily avert the threat.
27'
The best move of the night from Real Madrid sees them attack with pace and incisiveness, but the ball just wouldn't sit kindly for Bale in the penalty area after he fluffed his initial attempt to shoot.
25'
This is the first match of the tournament without a goal through the opening 20 minutes. Kashima came close very early on, but there's hardly been even a half chance since. It's being very tightly contested, and that's how the Japanese outfit will want it to continue.
23'
Kashima enjoy a decent break, from nothing, and win themselves another corner. Shoji nearly provided the opener with their first inside of three minutes, but this one amounts to nothing as Real Madrid easily see it away.
21'
The winner of this match will take on Al Ain in the final, who beat River Plate on penalties yesterday. It's still very early here, but at the rate things are slowing in attack, this match could be destined for penalties as well.
19'
It's really quite congested in midfield as the tempo has completely gone from this match. The ball is largely being contained in that middle third, but Kashima will have to be satisfied with how well they have thwarted Real Madrid's attempts to get forward.
15'
Real Madrid are slowly starting to assert themselves, winning the midfield battle as they look to set up camp in attack. There are a lot of red shirts back now, though, looking to congest things in defence.
13'
Possession has been evenly shared thus far. Both sides have done well to keep their shape, suggesting patience will be key for these sides to try and break the other down.
11'
There's a real intent being shown by the Antlers to take the game to Real Madrid and not just sit back. The LaLiga outfit, meanwhile, have struggled to find consistency, though Benzema managed to force Kwoun into a save with a venomous strike from 18 yards.
9'
Kashima enjoy a good spell in possession but they don't have enough men committed forward and Real Madrid are able to easily see it out as a result. The lively opening pace has slowed down a bit.
5'
There's an excellent tempo to this match in the early stages, and the fans are showing their appreciation. Both sides are keen to get into attack and grab an early goal, which has been a theme throughout this tournament.
2'
A good early chance for Kashima as Serginho takes a pass and drives into the penalty area via the left channel, but Courtois gets his fingertips to the effort to turn it wide - though it appeared to be headed beyond the far post anyhow.
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! Kashima are in red as they get the match underway, with Real Madrid in white!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of this FIFA Club World Cup semi-final match as Japanese outfit Kashima Antlers take on Real Madrid at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi!
Real Madrid have been trending in the right direction since the appointment of Santiago Solari, winning nine out of 11 matches as they come into today’s match looking to keep their title defence alive.
The LaLiga outfit have won successive FIFA Club World Cup titles, and today’s fixture will be a rematch of 2016’s thrilling final which Real Madrid won 4-2 after extra-time, with Kashima Antlers seeking revenge.
The Japanese side came from behind to beat Guadalajara in the quarter-finals in Al Ain as they have reached the final four for a second time in just two appearances in the competition.
The FIFA Club World Cup has come to be known as Cristiano Ronaldo’s playground, with the Portgual international scoring six of their nine goals en route to back-to-back titles – including a hat-trick in the 2016 final – but his departure has helped to level the playing field a bit as Kashima come into this match eager to pull the upset.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Marcos Llorente, Luka Modric; Lucas Vazquez, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema.
Gareth Bale's opener on the stroke of half-time was perhaps a bit undeserved in an opening 45 minutes that saw very few chances and looked destined to head into the break goalless. It's a fourth at the Club World Cup for Bale, who has completely changed the scope of this second half.
That goal should really help open things up after the break, following what was a congested opening 45 minutes with very few talking points. Kashima will be forced to open up now, which should lead to an exciting and fast-paced second half.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
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