Japan’s Kashima Antlers shocked South American champions Atletico Nacional 3-0 on Wednesday to reach the Club World Cup final, aided by a controversial first-ever penalty awarded by video referee.
Nacional’s players reacted furiously after Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai referred to the new technology in Osaka following complaints from the Kashima bench protesting that Daigo Nishi had been tripped on the half hour mark.
Shoma Doi made history by converting the penalty before Yasushi Endo added a cheeky back-heeled goal and substitute Yuma Suzuki completed the rout late on, Suzuki striking a Cristiano Ronaldo-style pose in celebration.
The Antlers, who become the first Japanese team to reach the final, face either Ronaldo’s Real Madrid or, in the event of a seismic shock, Mexico’s Club America for the title of the world’s best team on Sunday. Those two sides meet in Yokohama on Thursday.
Video technology is being trialed in FIFA competitions for the first time at the Club World Cup in Japan. The system involves assistant referees monitoring television screens and relaying information on so-called “match-changing decisions” to the match officials during the game.
“They kept attacking relentlessly,” Antlers coach Masatada Ishii told reporters. “I’m just relieved we held out. We hung in there and we’ve got our reward, we’re in the final now. We will be fighting for all of Japan.”
Kashima were fortunate not to be at least three goals down before the penalty incident missed by referee Kassai, Nacional forward Jhon Mosquera going closest for the Colombians with a fierce volley which rattled the crossbar.
Antlers goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata was forced to make several sharp saves before Mosquera smashed another shot against the bar just before halftime as the Libertadores Cup holders went in search of the equalizer.
The Colombian players continued to remonstrate as they trudged off, complaining -- with some justification on the evidence of television replays -- that Orlando Berrio had clipped Nishi’s heel by accident.
After spending 10 seconds reviewing the replays, Kassai pointed to the spot, much to the bemusement of the Atletico players.
Their frustration would have been all the more acute on viewing replays as Nishi looked to be offside in the build-up.
“We lost our organisation after that first goal,” said Nacional coach Reinaldo Rueda.
“Maybe we were too confident. It’s a harsh lesson but one we must learn from to improve.” Nacional had been the tournament’s sentimental favourites due to their incidental connection to the recent air tragedy that decimated Brazilian rivals Chapecoense, whose flags and replica shirts were waved in tribute by Atletico fans in Osaka.
Chapecoense had been on their way to play the Colombians in the final of the Copa Sudamericana when their plane crashed into a hillside near Medellin last month, claiming 71 lives, including all but three of the Chape players.
Earlier Wednesday, South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors thrashed South African side Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 to win the fifth-placed playoff.
Indonesia crushes Thailand in first Suzuki final
Indonesia’s dream of winning the AFF Suzuki championship is just a step away, after the nation defeated defending champions Thailand 2-1 Wednesday in Bogor, Indonesia.
Playing in the first leg of the final at Pakansari Stadium, Thailand’s Teerasil Dangda managed to secure the first goal of the match in minute 33.
Thailand soon led the game with players who seemed to dominate,but Indonesia didn’t give up their hopes of winning the title for the first time.
Cheered on by around 30,000 supporters, the home team fought hard to win the match.
Indonesia’s Rizky Pora secured a goal in minute 66, earning a huge cheer from the crowd.
Less than five minutes later, Hansamu Yama struck another goal for Indonesia, the home side now leading the game 2-1.
The match was the fifth time Indonesia has made it to the final in the championship, but it has never yet won the title.
Indonesia’s success in the first leg comes as a surprise, as it entered the tournament without having played any competitive matches since the last AFF Suzuki Cup in 2014.
The country had previously suffered under a one-year ban from international events imposed by world soccer body FIFA.
The AFF Suzuki Cup is the first international tournament for Indonesia after the ban was lifted in May.
The second leg of the final will be played on Saturday in Thailand, which has won the AFF Suzuki Cup four times.

Source: Arab News