Karim Benzema is congratulated by his Real team-mates after opening the scoring in the dying embers of the first half in a Club World Cup match yesterday
Cristiano Ronaldo reached another career milestone as he helped put Real Madrid into the World Club Cup final with his 500th club goal, but video replay chaos reigned again in the 2-0 win over Mexican side Club America.
There was nothing controversial about the convincing victory for Real Madrid but Fifa’s experiment to help referees has done nothing of the sort so far. On Wednesday a penalty was given after video evidence despite a clear offside against the attacking team. And yesterday, Club America played on after Ronaldo had scored because the referee appeared to have ruled the Portuguese striker’s 93rd minute strike out for offside.
After a short and very uncertain delay the match official eventually took the ball off the Club America players, marched back to the centre-spot, and placed it down for kick-off confirming he had indeed given the goal.
None of that will bother Ronaldo who had scored his 500th career goal and his 100th in European and World club action. The goal also made up for his bizarre miss early in the match when he headed the ball away from goal from inside the six-yard box.
Ronaldo did his best to head Real Madrid ahead in the first half but he hit the post from Lucas Vazquez’s cross. He drove Madrid forward in the first 45 minutes and in extra time of the first period they took the lead when Karim Benzema buried a chance after being slipped through by Toni Kroos’ perfect pass after he had been played in by Luka Modric.
In the second period came that miss from the Ballon d’Or. It was possibly the worst of his career. Lucas Vazquez centred from the right and unmarked in the six-yard box, and with the goalkeeper committed, Ronaldo got over the ball, and the wrong side of it, and headed clear instead of towards goal.
He made amends in injury time with a cross shot that left Moises Munoz with no chance. Indecision from the match official prompted by what he was being told in his ear-piece momentarily cut short celebrations but the goal stands and Real Madrid will now play Kashima Antlers on Sunday after they upset Colombian side Atletico Nacional in the other semi-final.
Winning on Sunday will cap an exceptional week and indeed year for Ronaldo. His late strike was also his 100th goal in European and world club competition. His 500 club goals have come in just 689 games. He scored five goals in 31 games for Sporting, 118 times in 292 games for Manchester United and has now hit the net 377 in 366 games for Real Madrid.
— mailonline