Real Madrid eased into next Saturday’s final of the Club World Cup after a 4-0 win over Cruz Azul at the Le Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, last night.
Goals came from Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema in the first half before Gareth Bale and Isco added to their tally in the second.
Real dominated possession and after Benzema hit the post, Ramos gave Los Blancos a 15th minute lead.
Toni Kroos’s cross found Ramos who headed past Corona, who would have been disappointed with his contribution.
Seven minutes before the break Real went two up after Daniel Carvajal did well down the right before playing in Benzema who powered home.
A minute later Azul missed a golden chance to equalise after Ramos brought down Mariano Pavone in the box, but Gerardo Torrado’s penalty was well saved by Iker Casillas, who dived to his right to push the ball to safety.
Bale made the game safe just five minutes into the second half after heading home Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross.
Pablo Barrera smashed an effort onto the post from just outside the area for Cruz Azul, but Real were cruising and a jinking run from Isco ended with the forward smashing a shot into the corner of the net after 72 minutes.
Real will face the winner of today’s clash between San Lorenzo and Auckland City.
Meanwhile, FIFPro has slammed what they described as “dangerous” playing conditions in Saturday’s Club World Cup quarter-final between Western Sydney Wanderers and Cruz Azul in Rabat.
The world players’ union also demanded an explanation from soccer’s governing body FIFA, the competition organisers, as to why the match went ahead on a waterlogged pitch.
“FIFPro calls on FIFA to clarify why the decision was made to continue this match in these conditions and to ensure that effective rules are in place to prevent a repetition of similar events,” said FIFPro director Tijs Tummers.
“The FIFA Club World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the game, as the winning team deserves the title of the best club team in the world,” he added.
“Such a competition deserves the highest quality playing conditions, more so, the players as workers have a right to a safe work environment.”