Real Madrid vs Club America live: Cristiano Ronaldo goal given after video referee referral to seal semi-final win

Follow the latest from the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final in Japan

Karim Benzema celebrates putting Real Madrid ahead against Club America (Reuters)

Real Madrid are through to the Fifa Club World Cup final after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Mexican side Club America, setting up a final clash against Japanese side Kasima Antlers in Tokyo on Sunday to decide the club champions of the world. Re-live the action here.

• Real Madrid beat Club America 2-0
• Real take first-half lead through Karim Benzema goal
• Cristiano Ronaldo doubles the advantage in final minutes
• Ronaldo's goal originally disallowed for offside before being reviewed on video
• Ronaldo had earlier struck the post twice
• Real to play Asian champions Kasima Tokyo in Sunday's final
• Club America to feature in 3rd-place play-off against Atletico Nacional

Follow the live action below...

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A big game for…

Rubens Sambueza. The Club America club captain is hoping to return to the starting XI to offer his team more control and bite in the centre of the park as they attempt to pull off a surprise victory over Madrid. Should he feature, Sambueza will need to recreate the sort of form which has seen him rack up four goals and nine assists this season. As club captain, Thursday’s semi-final comes a big game for the Argentine.

Best stat…

35 - The number of matches that reigning European champions Real Madrid have gone since they last lost. Their longest unbeaten run in 27 years, it comprises 26 wins and nine draws in all competitions and stretches back to April.

Rubens Sambueza in action against TP Mazembe's Given Singuluma (Getty)

Player to watch…

Karim Benzema. The Frenchman was rested for the side’s 3-2 La Liga win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and is expected to return to play in Thursday’s semi-final. After bagging a brace in his last appearance against Borussia Dortmund, America will need to keep an eye on the 28-year-old.

Last meeting…

The most recent meeting between the two sides came in a friendly match back in August 2010. Madrid emerged victorious on that occasion, with Cristiano Ronaldo striking late to end the game 3-2.

The last meeting between the two came in August 2010 (Getty)

Predicted teams...

Club America: Munoz, Valdez, Samudio, Arroyo, Goltz, Aguilar, Sambueza, Da Silva, Peralta, Quintero, Romero.

Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Marcelo, Varane, Ramos, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Vasquez, Ronaldo, Benzema.

What’s been said….

Club America coach Ricardo La Volpe: “It’s players and not shirts that win games. We’ll go out to play Real Madrid without any kind of burden on our shoulders. We have to work twice as hard to make sure we’ve got two men up against every one of theirs all across the pitch. We’re going to play a great side and we’re going to see what we’re made of.”

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos: “We’d like to get the Champions Badge back. The Club World Cup gives us the chance to test ourselves against other styles of play that we’re perhaps not so used to. We have new goals to achieve, and new records to break. There are always new challenges.”

Form guide...

Club America: WWDWD

Real Madrid: WDDWW

Vital information...

Kick-off: 15 December, Yokohama, Japan, 10.30 (UTC)

TV: The game is not being broadcast in the UK. Follow our live blog for minute-by-minute updates.

[15 December 2016 12:35 · Samuel Lovett]

Ronaldo celebrates his late goal 

[15 December 2016 12:37 · Samuel Lovett]

That's all from me, folks, thanks for tuning in. Keep your eyes fixed on the blog though as the match report will be up shortly! Until next time!

[15 December 2016 13:22 · Samuel Lovett]