Hi-tech support sets Kashima Antlers on road to final
The video eye from the sidelines played a part in Kashima Antlers's surprise 3-0 semi-final win over the South American champions Atletico Nacional at the Club World Cup.
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The Fifa competition in Japan is trialling the use of cameras to assist officiating and referee Viktor Kassai had recourse to the technology during the first-half of the game in Osaka.
The Kashima bench protested that Daigo Nishi had been tripped in the penalty area and when Kassai consulted the cameras, he agreed.
Shoma Doi converted the spot kick to give the Japanese champions the lead.
Atletico Nacional, who sportingly conceded the Copa Sudamericana trophy to the Chapecoense team killed in a plane crash last month, peppered the Kashima area but could not find a way thorugh.
Yasushi Endo and substitute Yuma Suzuki added gloss to the scoreline in the final seven minutes.
"They kept attacking relentlessly," Antlers coach Masatada Ishii said after the game. "I'm just relieved we held out. We hung in there and we've got our reward. We're in the final now. We will be fighting for all of Japan."
The Antlers are the first Japanese team to reach the final. They will play the European champions Real Madrid or the Concacaf champions Club America.
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