Bale hat-trick leads Real Madrid into Club World Cup final
Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores their third goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Japan's Kashima Antlers 3-1 on Wednesday to book a spot in the Club World Cup Final.
European champions Real will play host side Al Ain FC in Saturday's final in Abu Dhabi as they bid to win the title for the third year in a row.
Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores their third goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Kashima almost made a dream start inside two minutes with a close-range shot from Serginho that was saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Bale opened the scoring in the 44th minute with a left-foot strike into the bottom corner of the net after playing a one-two with Marcelo.
Bale struck his second in the 53rd minute, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up that left the Kashima goal wide open, and the Wales forward made it 3-0 to the Spanish side two minutes later with a left-foot shot into the top corner.
Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores their third goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Bale has now scored six goals in the tournament, trailing only his former team mate Cristiano Ronaldo who has netted seven.
"He (Bale) played a superb match," Real coach Santiago Solari told reporters. "He has shown what he is, and what he can do."
Bale was substituted in the 60th minute only for his replacement, Asensio to be forced off 14 minutes later due to injury.
Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores their first goal REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
"I hope it is not a serious problem with him because it is very that important all the players are fit," Solari said. "It is a pity that he had to leave the pitch today."
Asian champions Kashima grabbed a consolation goal in the 78th minute through Shoma Doi.
Kashima, third in the J-League, will meet South American champions River Plate in the third-place playoff earlier on Saturday.
Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Real Madrid's Marcelo in action with Kashima Antlers' Yasushi Endo REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, editing by Ed Osmond)
Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Kashima Antlers' Leo Silva in action with Real Madrid's Toni Kroos REUTERS/Andrew BoyersSoccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Real Madrid's Gareth Bale in action with Kashima Antlers' Daigo Nishi REUTERS/Suhaib SalemSoccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores their first goal REUTERS/Ahmed JadallahSoccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Kashima Antlers' Daigo Nishi in action with Real Madrid's Luka Modric REUTERS/Suhaib SalemSoccer Football - Club World Cup - Semi-Final - Kashima Antlers v Real Madrid - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 19, 2018 Real Madrid's Gareth Bale applauds the fans as he is substituted off REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
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