Al Jazira 1-2 Real Madrid: Real survive scare to reach Club World Cup final
Thursday 14 December 2017 22:18, UK
Real Madrid survived a scare to come from behind and advance to the Club World Cup final with a 2-1 win against Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi.
Having dominated the first half, the European champions went 1-0 down following a shock goal from Brazilian forward Romarinho five minutes before half-time, after being denied time and time again by an inspired performance from Al Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif Housani.
Cristiano Ronaldo equalised early in the second half but, as the chances came and went, it took the introduction of Gareth Bale to find Real's winner (81), slotting past substitute goalkeeper Khaled Al Senaani just seconds after leaving the bench.
Real will progress to face Gremio in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, while Al Jazira bow out with pride.
Zinedine Zidane left Marco Asensio and Sergio Ramos on the bench but an otherwise full-strength Real looked ready to put Al Jazira to the sword, peppering the UAE champions' goal in the first 20 minutes to be denied again and again by Housani.
Ronaldo twice had headers saved in the opening 15 minutes but it was Luka Modric who came closest to breaking the deadlock when his 25-yard drive struck the base of the post and bounced back off the fortunate Housani to safety.
The VAR was called into action midway through the first half when Isco crossed for Casemiro to nod into the corner but the Real midfielder was deemed to have committed a foul in the build-up and, after a lengthy stoppage, the goal was ruled out.
But Real would find themselves behind before half-time. Moubarak Boussoufa broke with the ball and clipped a clever pass into Romarinho who checked inside and flashed a clinical finish across Keylor Navas into the far corner.
Real almost find themselves further behind in the opening minute of the second behind but the VAR ruled out Boussoufa's strike as he had strayed offside.
The European champions equalised in the 53rd minute through Ronaldo as he picked up Modric's pass and fired past Al Senaani.
Real continued to probe to no avail with Karim Benzema twice striking the upright, but Al Jazira's hearts were broken when Bale, just off the bench, slotted home first-time from Lucas Vazquez's clever cut-back.
