Kashima Antlers qualified for the quarter finals of the FIFA Club World Cup following a come-from-behind play off victory over Auckland City.
Kashima Antlers qualified for the quarter finals of the FIFA Club World Cup following a come-from-behind play off victory over Auckland City.
The 100th Club World cup match took place in Yokohama, Japan and for the first time in a FIFA competition TV replays were used.
Despite Kashima enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the first-half it was the New Zealanders of Auckland who broke the deadlock first.
Kim Dae-wook headed home an Emiliano Tade free-kick to open the scoring on 50 minutes.
But 17 minutes later and much to the delight of the mainly Japanese crowd, J1 League champions Kashima Antlers were back on level terms.
Second-half sub Shuhei Akasaki managed to shoot his way through the parked bus Auckland had deployed in vain to keep their slender lead.
Just as the match looked destined for extra-time, Mu Kanazaki headed home from close range to seal a 2-1 win and fire Kashima into the quarter finals where they will meet the South Africans of Mamelodi Sundowns.
The winner of that quarter final will meet Colombian club Atlético Nacional.
The other quarter-final pits the South Koreans of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors against Mexican side América with the winners moving on to a last four encounter with Real Madrid.