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Real Madrid beat Club America to reach FIFA Club World Cup final (updated)

Xinhua, December 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Real Madrid overcame Club America to reach the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup final here on Thursday.

Benzema netted just before the halftime whistle while Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the victory in injury time of second half.

"In the first half, sometimes we can' t catch the rhythm, but in the second half we played well, we have many opportunities, Cristiano scored a goal and I am happy," said Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

"We want to play well in the midfield, I think we had more possession, but we lacked the accuracy of finishing," said Club America coach Ricardo La Volpe.

The European champions controlled well from the beginning but Club America had chances to take the lead in the counterattack. Oribe Peralta shot narrowly wide in 12th minute. Alex Ibarra tested Madrid' s keeper Keylor Navas in the 21st minute.

Real Madrid had a real chance in the 26th minute to put their noses in front as Lucas Vazquez delivered a fine cross from the right to Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Portugal forward's header smashed the post.

The European champions' effort finally paid off just before the halftime whistle when Toni Kroos sent a pinpoint through-ball, Benzema slotted past keeper Munoz to open the scoring.

The second half saw the whole Real Madrid team hope to assist Ronaldo a goal, who won his fourth Ballon D' or on Monday.

Ronaldo' s shot was blocked by Paolo Goltz in the 60th minute. The Portugal striker' s header went off the target.

Alvaro Morata nearly killed the match in the 89th minute, only to see his curling effort went off the post.

The Ballon d'Or winner finally scored in the 93rd minute as he shot past Munoz. The players from two sides stood on the pitch for almost one minute and the goal was finally confirmed after referee checked for offside using FIFA's new pitch side video technology.

"I do not like it (the new video system) very much, it can cause confusion, I don' t like this kind of system," Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said after the match. Endit