Football: Bale hat-trick as Real beat Kashima Antlers 3-1 in Club World Cup semi-final

A hat-trick from Gareth Bale sent Real Madrid through to a FIFA Club World Cup final meeting with Al-Ain - the European champions beating their Asian counterparts Kashima Antlers 3-1 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Bale broke the deadlock just before half-time after a one-two with Marcelo and the Wales international doubled Real's lead eight minutes into the second half, punishing a woeful pass from Shuto Yamamoto. The hat-trick was then completed just two minutes later, with Bale once again linking up with Marcelo. Shoma Doi pulled one back for Kashima in the 78th minute - the goal awarded after a VAR review showed Yasushi Endo had been onside in the build up. But Real held on to win 3-1 and reached the Club World Cup final for a fourth time in five years. The two-time defending champions will be firm favourites to win the competition for a fourth time in total when they face Al-Ain in Saturday's final.