Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Osaka: Kashima Antlers advanced to the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup final after a 3-0 victory against Atletico Nacional at the Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka. Shoma Doi converted a historic penalty on 33 minutes, the first spot-kick awarded with VAR assisting the referee with a match-changing situation in a FIFA competition, before Yasushi Endo and Yuma Suzuki bagged two late second-half goals to send the J.League champions into the global club showpiece final.
Kashima have made history by becoming the first Japanese team to reach the Club World Cup final and will face the winner of Club America-Real Madrid, the second semi-final to be contested on Thursday in Yokohama.
In an action-packed first half which saw Atletico Nacional dominate possession and chances, Miguel Borja saw a threatening right-footed volley saved on 21 minutes, before Mateus Uribe's effort moments later flew inches shy of the post. Jhon Mosquera then hit the crossbar for the 2016 Copa Libertadores winners, while Orlando Berrio's scissor-kick was cleared of the line by Gen Shoji on 23 minutes.
Despite Colombian dominance, it was J.League champions Kashima who took the lead on 33 minutes. An historic spot-kick was awarded when VAR was used to assist referee Viktor Kassai with a match-changing decision for the first time in a FIFA competition. Kashima were awarded a penalty when Daigo Nishi was adjudged to have been brought down inside the area and Doi made no mistake from the spot, firing Kashima in front.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/antlers_rejoice_jpg.html
