Real Madrid vs Club America live: Cristiano Ronaldo goal given after video referee referral to seal semi-final win
Follow the latest from the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final in Japan
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid are through to the Fifa Club World Cup final after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Mexican side Club America, setting up a final clash against Japanese side Kasima Antlers in Tokyo on Sunday to decide the club champions of the world. Re-live the action here.
- Real Madrid beat Club America 2-0
- Real take first-half lead through Karim Benzema goal
- Cristiano Ronaldo doubles the advantage in final minutes
- Ronaldo's goal originally disallowed for offside before being reviewed on video
- Ronaldo had earlier struck the post twice
- Real to play Asian champions Kasima Tokyo in Sunday's final
- Club America to feature in 3rd-place play-off against Atletico Nacional
Follow the live action below...
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A big game for…
Rubens Sambueza. The Club America club captain is hoping to return to the starting XI to offer his team more control and bite in the centre of the park as they attempt to pull off a surprise victory over Madrid. Should he feature, Sambueza will need to recreate the sort of form which has seen him rack up four goals and nine assists this season. As club captain, Thursday’s semi-final comes a big game for the Argentine.
Best stat…
35 - The number of matches that reigning European champions Real Madrid have gone since they last lost. Their longest unbeaten run in 27 years, it comprises 26 wins and nine draws in all competitions and stretches back to April.
Player to watch…
Karim Benzema. The Frenchman was rested for the side’s 3-2 La Liga win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and is expected to return to play in Thursday’s semi-final. After bagging a brace in his last appearance against Borussia Dortmund, America will need to keep an eye on the 28-year-old.
Last meeting…
The most recent meeting between the two sides came in a friendly match back in August 2010. Madrid emerged victorious on that occasion, with Cristiano Ronaldo striking late to end the game 3-2.
Predicted teams...
Club America: Munoz, Valdez, Samudio, Arroyo, Goltz, Aguilar, Sambueza, Da Silva, Peralta, Quintero, Romero.
Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Marcelo, Varane, Ramos, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Vasquez, Ronaldo, Benzema.
What’s been said….
Club America coach Ricardo La Volpe: “It’s players and not shirts that win games. We’ll go out to play Real Madrid without any kind of burden on our shoulders. We have to work twice as hard to make sure we’ve got two men up against every one of theirs all across the pitch. We’re going to play a great side and we’re going to see what we’re made of.”
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos: “We’d like to get the Champions Badge back. The Club World Cup gives us the chance to test ourselves against other styles of play that we’re perhaps not so used to. We have new goals to achieve, and new records to break. There are always new challenges.”
Form guide...
Club America: WWDWD
Real Madrid: WDDWW
Vital information...
Kick-off: 15 December, Yokohama, Japan, 10.30 (UTC)
TV: The game is not being broadcast in the UK. Follow our live blog for minute-by-minute updates.
59 min: Modric does well to win the ball just inside America's final third from where he picks out Benzema ahead of him. With his back to goal, he tries to turn but his movement and touch is off, allowing Goltz to burst in and seize back possession for the Mexicans.
61 min: Munoz with the save! Modric played a bisecting pass through the centre of the park to Ronaldo who, after a brief surge, picked out Vazquez to his right. From the byline, he cut it back to the Portuguese and with a sweeping right-footed strike, he sought to find the back of the net. It wasn't to be though as Munoz leapt into action to deny the player and push the ball away for a corner.
66 min: Madrid with their closest chance of the second half! Modric kick-started the attack inside the America final-third as he lost his marker with an exquisite turn before slotting through Valdez to his right. He lifted it to the centre of the goal where both Benzema and Ronaldo appeared to rise to meet the delivery. At the last minute the Frenchman pulled out, putting off the Portuguese in the process. His headed effort headed up falling for Modric near the penalty spot and with a twisting over-head bicycle kick, he fired on goal. It was millimetres wide of the right-hand side post but that was agonisingly close for Zidane's team.
73 min: Penalty appeal for Club America? Peralta went toe-to-toe with Varane under the high-ball inside Madrid's box. The defender asserted his weight, using it force the America forward out the way who subsequently went tumbling to the ground. Peralta appealed but the ref waved play on. He went down far too easily there and would have been very fortunate indeed to have been awarded a penalty.
76 min: James sees his first bit of action as he claims a loose ball on the edge of the America box, turns and floats one towards the penalty spot in search of his team mates. Munoz reads it well though and rushes from his line to plant two firm hands on the ball and claim possession.
78 min: A close shave for Madrid! The Mexicans threaten down the left towards the byline before lifting the ball over Navas to the far post. Peralta was lurking ominously but Nacho managed to track back in time to nod the ball away and deny America a late goal.
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