Kashima Antlers vow to 'show our own game' in Fifa Club World Cup rematch with Real Madrid


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

Runners-up to Real Madrid two years ago, Kashima Antlers have not had to wait too long for their chance of revenge.

On Saturday, at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, the Asian champions bounced back against Concacaf counterparts Guadalajara to stride into the Fifa Club World Cup semi-finals.

A goal down to the Mexicans at half-time, Kashima kept calm to eventually triumph 3-2. Madrid wait in the last four on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.

In 2016, when playing as hosts, the Japanese club pushed the acclaimed Spanish giants to extra-time in the final, but Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick and Madrid collected the trophy.

Now, 24 months on, the two teams meet again.

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Read more on Fifa Club World Cup:

Esperance manager Mouine Chaabani hoping for local Tunisian support against Al Ain

Marcus Berg still 'not 100 per cent' as Al Ain prepare for Esperance

Al Ain beat Team Wellington on penalties at Fifa Club World Cup

Lowdown: All you need to know about the Fifa Club World Cup

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“Last time in Japan, in the 2016 final, we made a great impact on a lot of people,” said Kashima manager Go Oiwa, who watched that match as assistant to Masatada Ishii. “But against Madrid we really wanted to win, that’s how we thought.

“Yes we lost, it was disappointing, but we now have a stage to show our disappointment. We won this opportunity ourselves and that’s very pleasing. This match is going to get a lot of attention.

"We will try to show what we couldn’t do today, play aggressively and show our own game from the beginning against Real Madrid. That’s how we feel as we try to take the challenge to Real Madrid.”

On Saturday, they were certainly challenged by Guadalajara. The first side to qualify for the tournament, the Mexicans made a fast start to their Club World Cup debut.

Three minutes had just about elapsed when Isaac Brizuela broke brilliantly down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross for Angel Zaldivar. Unmarked, the hulking striker headed back across Kashima goalkeeper Sun Tae Kwon and into the net.

From there, Jose Cardoza's men were much the better side, with Kwon forced into a fine save from Zaldivar’s close-range effort just after the half hour. Seconds before the whistle signalled the interval, Orbelin Pineda struck the crossbar.

Yet, to their credit, Kashima responded. Within four minutes of the restart, they were level. Serginho led a breakaway and played in Shoma Doi, who threaded an inviting square ball for Ryota Nagaki to slide home.

Twenty minutes later, Kashima had completed the turnaround. Again, Doi was involved. Receiving the ball on the edge of the Guadalajara area, the midfielder wrestled free from three opponents only to be tripped by Michael Perez’s outstretched leg.

Serginho kept his cool from the spot, rolling the ball into the bottom left-hand corner while Guadalajara goalkeeper Raul Gudino opted for the other side. Six minutes from time, substitute Hiroki Abe curled a fine finish high past Gudino to put Kashima 3-1 to the good and seemingly seal the result.

However, there was still enough left for Guadalajara to halve the deficit. In injury-time, the Video Assistant Referee confirmed Shuto Yamamoto had indeed kicked Jair Pereira in the Kashima area. Alan Pulido’s spot-kick was saved, but the rebound was bundled in via a rival's touch. Much to Guadalajara’s dismay, though, it proved too little, too late.

Kashima had rallied and rolled into the semi-finals. There lies Madrid, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Two years on, and with five players starting against Guadalarjara who began the 2016 showpiece, they have their chance for revenge.

“That gave us security and peace of mind to be able to draw from experience, especially for our younger players," Oiwa said. "I’ll continue using this experience for that reason, and choose a starting 11 based on this and our analysis of Madrid.

“Madrid is Madrid, Madrid is strong. But against such strength we will be solid and aggressive in our fighting. Yes, we do hope to proceed to the final.”

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

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The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE tour of the Netherlands

UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match

Sam Smith

Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday November 24

Rating: 4/5

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  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Challenge Cup result:

1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

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Brief scores:

England: 290 & 346

Sri Lanka: 336 & 243

RESULTS

1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.

3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.

3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m

Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.

Essentials
The flights

Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.