Gareth Bale scored a brilliant hat-trick in just 11 minutes to hep Real Madrid into the Club World Cup final after a 3-1 win over Kashima Antler in Abu Dhabi.
Real Madrid remain on track for a third successive Club World Cup as they'll now face UAE side Al-Ain in the final after they shocked River Plate.
Bale, who had been a doubt for the game with an ankle injury, calmly slotted home the opener in the closing stages of the first half, before his quick-fire double early in the second period put the game beyond the Japanese opponents.
Antlers midfielder Shoma Doi reduced the deficit with a consolation 12 minutes from time.
Al-Ain now await Real in Saturday's final following their shock penalty shootout victory over Copa Libertadores champions River Plate.
⚽️⚽️⚽️@GarethBale11 bagged a hat-trick as holders 🇪🇸@realmadriden advanced to the #ClubWC final after a 3-1 win over 🇯🇵@atlrs_english pic.twitter.com/ayoYr9JiwG
— #ClubWC 🏆 (@FIFAcom) December 19, 2018
European champions Real struggled to create in the first half on Wednesday, until Bale broke the deadlock a minute before the break.
The former Tottenham man collected the ball wide on the left and, following a stylish one-two with left-back Marcelo, slotted home via the right post.
He did not have to wait long for another opportunity and duly doubled his team's advantage eight minutes after the restart by seizing on a calamitous mix-up between Kashima defender Shuto Yamamoto and goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae to find the empty net.
Bale completed his treble just two minutes later when Brazil defender Marcelo was once again the provider, sliding the ball into the box for Bale to take a touch and then emphatically lash the ball into the top-right corner.
The Wales international, who now has 10 goals for the season in all competitions, was replaced by Marco Asensio with half an hour remaining, before Doi's low shot under Thibaut Courtois was allowed to stand following a video assistant referee review for a potential offside.
Real have won this competition three times, a record they jointly hold with bitter rivals Barcelona.
