Gareth Bale hat-trick sends Real Madrid into Fifa Club World Cup final


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Gareth Bale warmed up for Saturday’s Fifa Club World Cup meeting with Al Ain by scoring three goals in Real Madrid’s simple semi-final win over Kashima Antlers at Zayed Sports City.

The Welshman became the third player to score a hat-trick in a Club World Cup fixture, as the European champions began their title defence with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday night.

Tellingly, he hardly seemed to reach full pace in doing so. He was given half an hour extra rest at the end, too, as Santiago Solari, Madrid’s manager, withdrew him with the match already all but won. He should be fresh for the showpiece against the UAE representatives at the weekend.

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More from Fifa Club World Cup:

Marcus Berg: Striker's 'fantastic feeling' of Al Ain's run to Club World Cup final

'It was like my wedding day': Al Ain fans jubilant after win over River Plate

Khalid Essa: Al Ain will 'fight to win' Club World Cup after reaching final

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His goals arrived in an 11-minute spell either side of half-time, as Madrid cantered through their return to the stadium where they had won this title, 12 months ago.

Given the pulsating atmosphere at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium so far in this tournament, fuelled by the wild success of Al Ain, the move up the road to Abu Dhabi initially met a strangely muted response.

This semi-final was not a sellout, but most seats were filled. Yet an attendance of 30,544 did not translate to much noise, despite the best efforts of a drummer, as well as the small, well-choreographed group of Kashima fans behind the goal at the southern end of the ground.

Neither did the players inspire much cheer. The game started at walking pace and, in the first phase, rarely gathered speed.

As a comment on how tepid the fare was, the first Mexican wave started as early as the 20th minute. Even that petered out soon after due to general ambivalence.

Even though he looked some way down on full fitness and match-sharpness, Bale was noticeably the most willing in the first phase.

His rustiness was shown in the 27th minute when he fluffed a right-footed shot when well-placed to score.

Like everyone else, he was playing in a low gear, as shown when he played a pass while doing his hair.

But it was the former Tottenham Hotspur forward who did, eventually, break the deadlock. He scored on the stroke of half-time, firing a low shot in off the right-hand post after a clever exchange of passes with Marcelo, Madrid’s left-back.

It was clear Bale was warming to the task, and – not that he really needed it - he was given a nudge along by some abject defending by Kashima.

Between them, Shuto Yamamoto and Jung Sheunghyun teed up Bale’s second, which he eventually swept into an open goal from the inside-right position.

He completed his treble two minutes later, when he rifled into the top corner from the left edge of the six-yard box after again being set up by Marcelo.

The Japanese side had scarcely pushed their illustrious opponents, but they were at least afforded a small amount of cheer when Shoma Doi shot past Thibault Courtois with 12 minutes left.

Initially, the assistant to the referee had flagged for an offside, and Wilton Sampaio, the Brazilian referee, had to wait for confirmation from a video review before allowing the goal to stand.

Some artificial interest was added when a supporter, with the 90 minutes up, decided to make his own excitement, invaded the field, and hugged Karim Benzema and Marcelo.

For Madrid, the champions of the Arabian Gulf League now await in the final on Saturday night. They might find those Asian opponents to be a rather different challenge to that posed by the champions of the continent.

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

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Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

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THE SPECS

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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

Monster Hunter: World

Capcom

PlayStation 4, Xbox One

RESULTS

5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

6.30pm: Handicap |  Dh85,000 |  2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap |  Dh70,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) |  Dh100,000 |  1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

 

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