MADRID (AFP) - Gareth Bale hit an 11-minute hat-trick on Wednesday (Dec 19) as Real Madrid strolled into the Club World Cup final by beating Kashima Antlers 3-1 in Abu Dhabi.
Bale scored in the 44th, 53rd and 55th minutes at the Zayed Sports City Stadium to put Madrid within touching distance of a record fourth success in this competition, and their third triumph in a row.
Real are currently tied with their La Liga rivals Barcelona, having each won it three times before, but it would be a major surprise if the European champions were not hoisting the trophy again on Saturday, when they face hosts Al Ain in the final.
Bale had missed the 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano last weekend with an ankle problem but he was in irresistible form, albeit against limited opposition.
The Welshman joins Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only player to score in three separate Club World Cup tournaments while his treble, coming either side of half-time, is the fastest in the history of the competition.
"Bale ate everything today, the floodlights, the stands, the nets," coach Santiago Solari said. "He has shown what a player he is and what he can do. So let him rest and eat the nets again on Saturday."
Kashima Antlers, from Japan's J1 League, qualified after winning the Asian Champions League last month but, despite a lively start and a late consolation from Shoma Doi, they were clearly second best.
Bale now has 10 goals in 21 games for Real Madrid this season while victory will also come as a relief to Solari.
A handful of underwhelming performances had been badly timed given the sacking of Jose Mourinho by Manchester United, with speculation linking the Portuguese with a return to the club never far away.
"We see the final as a reward for this team that has been together a long time and given great joy to Madrid fans," Solari said.
Madrid were still sleeping during the opening 10 minutes and Antlers should have led, as Serginho's shot was tipped wide by Thibaut Courtois before Gen Shoji failed to connect with a free header three yards out.
REAL FIND THEIR GROOVE
They soon found their rhythm, however, with Karim Benzema twice shooting straight at the goalkeeper while Bale had an effort blocked after nipping between the Antlers central defenders.
Madrid's front two were tying Antlers in knots and two minutes before half-time, Bale struck. A neat one-two with Marcelo on the edge of the area set him in behind and Bale guided the bouncing ball into the far corner.
Benzema had a shot cleared off the line at the start of the second half but Madrid did not have long to wait.
Bale scored twice in as many minutes as first, he capitalised on a poor backpass from Shuto Yamamoto and then drove into the far corner after Marcelo had, again, teed him up.
Three clear, Madrid were home and dry, and Bale departed on the hour, replaced by Marco Asensio while Casemiro, recovered from an ankle injury, came on to make his first appearance since Nov 12.
Antlers pulled one goal back with 13 minutes left as Doi drove in after Yasushi Endo headed down. Initially ruled offside, VAR showed Endo was level but a comeback never looked likely.
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive Marco Silva's side moved into eighth place on the Premier League leaderboard, one point behind seventh-place Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive
Liverpool Back On Top With Newcastle Win But Lose Salah Liverpool's Premier League title challenge remains alive after Divock Origi scored an 86th-minute winner in a dramatic 3-2 victory at
Liverpool returns to Premier League top as Salah injured
Manchester United will be without Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard for Monday's FA Cup clash at Chelsea with both sidelined for up to three weeks after picking up injuries during Tuesday's
Man Utd's Martial, Lingard to Miss Chelsea, Liverpool Matches
Pedro scored a vital away goal for Chelsea in their Europa League semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. There was a raucous atmosphere ahead of kick-off and the home fans were
Chelsea draw 1-1 at Eintracht in Europa League semi first leg
Football: Spurs back up to second after 3-0 win at Cardiff
Two British members of an Islamic State cell dubbed 'The Beatles', have complained about losing their UK citizenship and biased media coverage. Report by Louee Dessent-Jackson.
"This is clearly unfair": Gymkhana FC president expresses
Teenage sensation Moise Kean scored the winner to put Juventus one step away from an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as a 2-1 comeback win over AC Milan pushed the champions 21 points
Kean winner puts Juventus on brink of Serie A title
Alan Shearer names the problem positions that could end Spurs' title bid and it's not up front. Spurs news includes analysis from BBC Sport's Match of the Day 2 programme on the areas that need improvement if the title is to be won
Fantasy football tips: Jamie Vardy's form and Leicester's
Soccer: Veteran Quagliarella helps rejuvenated Italy thrash
United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David de Gea. Manchester United's perfect record under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Man United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says De Gea
British crash investigators have launched an underwater operation to recover a body from the wreckage of the plane carrying Argentine UK rescuers launch bid to recover body from Sala's plane.
UK rescuers launch bid to recover body from Sala's plane
Jose Mourinho says he has rejected three job offers since his sacking by Manchester United before aiming a dig at his former club over transfers. Mourinho was dismissed for the third time in
Jose Mourinho reveals deadline for return to football after
Neymar 'cried for two days' after new foot injury | Philstar.com
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming live free
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch champions league live streaming zee5
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch premier league darts live stream
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch premier league live stream hd
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming world
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming free online
free watch soccer live streaming
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch us soccer live stream
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch champions league live stream uk
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch premier league live streaming free
watch premier league games live stream
#cappucino #satira #afcnews #tokyo #leomessi #americanfootball #myfootballuniverse #Bar #liverpool #nutmeg #manchestercity #panini #Celtic #golf #serieatim #GarageCafeDxb #BMW #manchesterunited #premierleague #soccer #footballstreaming #coutinho #league2 #beatifulgame #Liverpool #Vip45 #gooners #realmadrid #risate #oasis #freekick #messi #MyDubai #bayern #manchestercity #alissonbecker #ucl #liverpoolfc #roadtrip #kickoff #soccermemes #transfernews #gym #soccerbible #4Series #visubal #arsenal #barcelona #24x7 #mensnightout #freekickerz #lovefootball #thebeatles #seriea #fcbarcelona #Liamgallagher #romania #MSport #mane #JUVENTUS #footballdubai #insegreto #nationsleague #ballondor #footballmemes #league1 #Barcelona #realmadridcf #frasirap #vip #oasisengland #goodday #fut #oasisandbeatles #livestreams #acmilan #frasitrap #adidasslipon #golazo #soccer #commento #meunier #footballmeme #salah #433skills #england #trollfootball #girlsniteout #ronaldo #londoncity #livesports #nikesoccer #kroenkeout #lionelmessi #coyg #footballfans #firmino
No comments:
Post a Comment