Real strut stuff in reaching final

Real Madridare through to the Club World Cup final after a decisive 4-0 winover Cruz Azul on Tuesday nightin Marrakesh, Morocco.

Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema scored first half goals, while Gareth Bale and Isco tallied in the second half to send Los Blancos to the final where they will await the winner of Wednesday's San Lorenzo-Auckland City semifinal. It was the 21st consecutive victory for Real who will be an overwhelming favorite to collect their third trophy in 2014.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti went with his strongest possible starting XI with Iker Casillas in goal, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo in defense. In midfield it was the always dependable Toni Kroos joined by Asier Illarramendi and Isco while in attack it was the BBC with Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema.

There were plenty of scoring chances for both teams in the first stages of the match but it was Real connecting first as Ramos put Los Blancos up 1-0 in the 14th minute. Kroos swung in a free kick which Ramos, as he so often does, easily headed past Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesús Corona who erred in coming off his line.

Ancelotti's men doubled their lead in the 36th minute with Benzema finding the back of the net. However, all the hard work was done by Carvajal who managed to elude three Cruz Azul defenders right by the end line before lofting a chip for Benzema to smash in to make it 2-0.

Cruz Azul were given a lifeline in the 39th minute when Ramos took down Mariano Pavone in the area. Gerardo Torrado, who had converted two penalties in the quarterfinal round versus Western Sydney Wanderers, stepped up to take the spot kick, but for the second match in a row Casillas managed to save the penalty as the legendary stopper parried away the effort.

Real started making it look easy in the 50th minute when they extended their lead to three. It was a goal crafted out by the BBC as Benzema found Ronaldo on the left wing and the Portuguese crossed for Bale who nodded home a header at the back post.

From there Real were in full control and had their way with the Concacaf champions, who rarely threatened Casillas' goal in the second half. Ronaldo then collected his second assist on the night when he fed Isco with a ball at the top of the area, and from there the genius of the former Valencia and Málaga man took over as Isco danced and deked his way past two defenders before firing past Corona to make it 4-0.

It was almost a five goal output for the reigning European champions but substitute Sami Khedira's header bounced off the post in the 84th minute. Three minutes later the post came to Corona's aid again as Ronaldo struck the woodwork with a free kick from long-range.

But a fifth goal was not to be had for Real, who now turn their attention to Saturday's final.

Twitter: @ArchBell

Source: MARCA.com (English version)