Real Madrid won in the extra time the FIFA Club World Cup final against Kashima Antlers. The team managed by Zinedine Zidane have proclaimed the best team of all the world in the year 2016. Sergio Ramos returned to the line up replacing Nacho in the defense. Los Bancos could achieve the last trophy of the year, closing a great season.
Kashima started the match quite aggressive trying to stop the game rhyme with several fouls. In the 8th minute, Real Madrid opened the scoreboard with a goal of Benzema. Scoring the first goal soon was the most difficult task and Los Blancos archived it in the first chance they had. After the first goal, Real Madrid tried to control the match but it was not easy because the Japanese team were pressing quite good. Around the 30th minute Benzema had the chance to score his second goal but Kushibiki (Kashima´s goalkeeper) did a great save. In the last 15 minutes of the first half, the team managed by Zidane relaxed a little bit and Kashima tied the match just before the half time from a great play of the Japanese team.
Real Madrid started with a better attitude in the second half but in the minute 52 Kashima scored their second goal from a Shibasaki’s great play scoring from outside the box. Los Blancos had to react quickly and only five minutes later Lucas Vázquez did a great play that finished in a clear penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo tied the match from a perfect penalty kick and Los Blancos had many minutes to try to make another comeback.
After Real Madrid tied the match, the Japanese team were focused only in defending and Los Blancos started to have almost all the time the ball possession. Zidane did his first substitution in the 78th minute replacing Lucas by Isco with the objective of having even more the possession. Kashima Antlers had some chances from counter backs and they almost scored the victory goal in the last minutes of the match. The game arrived to the 90th minute and the match was still draw, so it was going to be resolved in the extra time.
Kashima have shown that they are physically fit because they finished the first 90 minutes better than Real Madrid. In the 98th minute of the extra time, Karim Benzema assisted to Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese star scored with a great finish. Kashima almost tied the match from a header but the ball finished in the bar. Just before the first half of the injury time finishes, Cristiano scored another goal, achieving a new hat-trick in his personal his personal account.
Real Madrid won the match 4-2 in a game very difficult game that finished in the extra time. We can highlight the great performance of Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo being both the references in Real Madrid attack. Los Blancos could achieve their third title of the year and they have become the best team in the world in 2016.
Comment: Real didnt have an impressive win. They are not suppose to struggle to the extent of almost loosing the normal time. This shows that ZZ has much to do and to buy because we can run out of luck anytime. We need smarter and faster attackers and a better difence.