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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“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.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Investors: Core42
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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
GCC-UK%20Growth
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Key facilities
- 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
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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.