The final of FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 was held in December 18, the Kashima Antlers played against the Real Madrid at Nissan Stadium, Kanagawa Prefecture Japan. The Kashima Antlers of J-League was the host nation’s national champions in 2016 and they got the right to participate in this tournament. The Antlers beat Auckland City of the winner’s OFC Champions League 2 to 1 in the 1st round, and beat Mamelodi Sundowns of the winner’s CAF Champions League 2 to 0.
Then the Antlers has played against the Atletico Nacional of the winner’s Copa Libertadores in the Semi-final. And the Antlers beat the Atletico Nacional 3 to 0, so Antlers reached the final for the first time as a Japanese team and Asian team. On the other hand, Real Madrid of the winner’s UEFA Champions League has played against the Club America of the winner’s CONCACAF Champions League in the Semi-final. The Real Madrid beat the Club America 2 to 0 and reached the final.
In the Final, the starting lineup of Antlers were almost same as the Semi-final. But Ryota Nagaki and Mu Kanazaki were in the starting lineup. And the starting lineup of Real Madrid were almost same as the Semi-final. But Sergio Ramos was in the starting lineup. In the 9th minute of first half, Karim Benzema broke the deadlock. Jun Sogahata of the Antlers’s Goal keeper cleared off the line for Luka Modric’s shoot, but Benzema took the loose ball and scored a goal. The ball possession rate of Real Madrid was 60% in the first half, the Real Madrid attacked actively. But in the 44th minute, Gaku Shibasaki scored a goal to convert the cross by Shouma Doi, the Antlers got even.
In the 52 minute, Gaku Shibasaki scored a goal again, the Antlers came from behind as soon as the second half started. An incredible time has come that the Japanese team led Real Madrid! But after 8 minute, Shuto Yamamoto of the Antlers knocked Lucas Vazquez so the Real Madrid got a chance of penalty kick. Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty calmly as usual, the Real Madrid got even again. So the Antlers changed the players, Fabrício and Yuma Suzuki came off the bench. Then an inexplicable judgment occurred just before the end of the second half. Sergio Ramos who booked once in this match, knocked Kanazaki so the referee made a pretense to issue a yellow card. But the referee did not issue the yellow card finally, Ramos was not sent off with the second yellow card and the Real Madrid were saved. After that both teams didn’t scored the goal, the second half was completed as score of 2 to 2.
In the extra time, there was no power surpassing the attack of Real Madrid in the Antlers. Ronaldo scored 2 goals and the Real Madrid beat the Antlers 4 to 2. So the Real Madrid won the championship of FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016, the winning was the second time for Real Madrid since 2014. The most prominent player with a fighting Antlers was Gaku Shibasaki who scored 2 goals. According to the news report in Japan, he is interested in the Elche CF and Getafe CF of Liga Espanola Segunda Division. Because the success of this day, His transfer to Spain may have been realistic.
This youtube’s video is the final of the Antlers vs. the Real Madrid. The Antlers’ dream story was over.
