A 4-0 victory over Kashima Antlers in the Club World Cup third place play-off flattered River Plate.
The Argentines were dominant in possession but their Asian counterparts always provided a goal threat in what was a well contested tie at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Bruno Zuculini opened the scoring from a corner in the 24th minute before Rafael Santos Borre’s penalty in the second half was sandwiched by two Gonzalo Martinez strikes in his final game for the club.
Yasushi Endo’s corner early on saw Jung Seung-Hyun’s shot at the far post saved incredibly on the line by German Lux after Tomoya Inukai flicked header.
Kashima were forced to switch keepers when Kwon Sun-tae was unable to shake off a knock. Hitoshi Sogahata replaced him between the sticks in the 24th minute and his first order of business was to pick the ball out of the net.
Nicolas De La Cruz’s delivery from a corner was met by a towering header from Zuculini, leaving the substitute keeper with no chance as the ball crashed in off the far post.
Sogahata was in the action again, rushing off his line and saving well from a one-on-one with Alvarez.
Bruno Zuculini (r) opened the scoring.
Quintero’s drilled low cross found Alvarez in the box who rolled it into the path of the onrushing Martinez to slot away.
Kashima squandered several opportunities. Doi volleyed Hiroki Abe’s cross over before striking the cross bar a couple of minutes later. Ryota Nagaki also left the bar rattling with a late free-kick.
Borre then drew a foul inside the box and stepped up to convert the penalty, making it 3-0 in the 90th minute.
There was more gloss to be applied on the scoreline though and Martinez provided it with his second. The MLS-bound player signed off with a delicious chip from outside the area to end a superb evening for River Plate.
