Kashima Antlers complete Club World Cup lineup

Sport360 staff 10:37 04/12/2016
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  • Kashima qualify as champions of the host nation.

    Kashima Antlers secured their place at this year’s Club World Cup with a dramatic away goals win over Urawa Reds that secured the 2016 J-League title.

    With Japan welcoming the Club World Cup this December, Kashima became the second Asian Football Confederation team to qualify for the tournament as champions of the host nation.

    Trailing 1-0 from the first-leg, Kashima secured the trophy the hard way.

    Shinzo Koroki made it 2-0 to home side Urawa Reds before Mu Kanazaki’s brace brought the Antlers level, the final ending 2-2 on aggregate and seeing Kashima seal the trophy by virtue of their two away goals.

    It means Kashima will kick-off the Club World Cup against Oceania Football Confederation Champions League winners Auckland City on December 8 in Yokohama.

    The winners of that tie will progress to the quarter-finals and take on South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns who claimed this year’s CAF Champions League crown.

    Antlers join newly crowned AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as Asia’s two representatives in the tournament.

    Jeonbuk overcome UAE outfit Al Ain last month and face Mexico’s CONCACAF Champions League winners America in the quarters before the mouth watering prospect of taking on Real Madrid in the semis.

    The other semi-finalist is 2016 Copa Libertadores champions Atletico Nacional, who were due to play Chapecoense in the final of the Copa Sudamericana before the Brazilian side met tragedy last week.

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