Kashima Antlers spoil Chivas’ Club World Cup dreams

The Chivas closed out their 2018 calendar with a discouraging loss to Kashima Antlers at the Club World Cup.

Kashima Antlers scored three second-half goals to defeat the Chivas, crushing their dream of facing Real Madrid and bringing an end to a disappointing year for Guadalajara fans.

A look at the stats would suggest the Chivas might have been the winners. They got off more shots (20 to 11), had more shots on goal (8 to 5), had more possession (57% to 43%) and were more accurate with their passes (83% to 73%). But Kashima is a veteran team, with a blend of Brazilians and Japanese internationals.

The Chivas got off to a promising start in Abu Dhabi as Ángel Saldívar headed home a pinpoint cross from Isaac Brizuela with the game just three minutes old. The first half had a decent flow despite heavy marking and three yellow cards.

Guadalajara had the better chances, but could not get the ball on net with regularity. And when they did, goalie Kwoun Sun-tae was up to the task. In minute 35, Saldívar fired a left-footer from close range off a throw-in but the South Korean keeper dived to his left and parried the ball around the post.

Still, Guadalajara enjoyed the better of play throughout the first 45 minutes. Defender Hedgardo Marín headed way over the crossbar in minute 32 off a corner kick and just before the break, the Chivas saw two chances go awry, First, Orbelín Pineda banged a shot off the crossbar, a miss that would haunt the Chivas, and seconds later Brizuela ripped a shot from just outside the box that sailed just wide of the right post.

Coach Pepe Cardozo had to be pleased with his team at the halfway point. The Chivas had exhibited patience and good spacing, while midfielder Michael Perez and the back four did an admirable job of preventing Kashima from creating clear scoring chances.

The performance was particularly impressive since it came a full three weeks after the Chivas’ last competitive match (a 1-0 loss to Tigres on Matchday 17).

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Just four minutes into the second half, the Chivas suffered a terrible lapse in concentration. Chofis López was denied close in and the Antlers goalie punted quickly to midfield and Guadalajara’s defense was caught napping.

Only two Chivas defenders were back and both chased Shoma Doi down the left flank while Ryota Nagaki was running free straight toward the back post as defender Hedgardo Marín failed to track back in a timely manner.

Doi fired a low cross to Nagaki who tapped in easily as Chivas keeper Raúl Gudiño scrambled to cover his back post in vain.

The Chivas didn’t hang their heads, still pressing forward and looking to create offense. Unfortunately, Kashima had tightened up their defense and allowed few clear shots at goal. The frustration started to show and Guadalajara started committing fouls that interrupted the rhythm of the match.

In minute 68, Michael Pérez committed a dubious foul in the penalty area (he appeared to make incidental contact with Doi at the top of the penalty box and ref Tessema Bamlak pointed to the spot). Serginho stepped up for the penalty and the 23-year-old Brazilian sent Gudiño the wrong way, burying the kick to send the Antlers into a 2-1 lead.

In minute 84, the Chivas again committed a defensive mistake, failing to mark Hiroki Abe at the top of the box. Defender Jair Perreira dropped off deep instead of staying with the Japanese forward and Abe had time to measure his shot, ripping a right-footer over Gudiño and inside the far post. At 3-1 with six minutes remaining, the Antlers had basically put the game to bed.

Gudiño made a spectacular save in minute 90 to keep the Antlers from going up 4-1, diving to his right to deny Koko Anzai.

The Chivas had a few last gasps during added time. Second-half sub José de Jesús Godínez got his head on a centering pass from Alan Pulido but the keeper blocked it right on the line. It should have been a goal

A minute later, Shuto Yamamoto hacked down Jair Perreria in the box but the ref missed the call. A few seconds later, the video assistant referee asked him to consult the video and after doing so he whistled the penalty. Pulido stepped up to take the PK, but his shot was poor and Kwoun blocked it. In the scramble to clear the loose ball, it deflected into the Antlers net off Kashima midfielder Leo Silva.

Just before the final whistle, Saldívar appeared to have stepped clear for a shot from about 15 meters but defender Jeong Seung-Hyeon slid in to smother the attempt.

The Chivas still have a consolation match, facing Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis to determine fifth place in the Club World Cup. That game will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 18.