The Kashima Antlers have always found a way to get the job done, which is why they have 18 pieces of silverware stocked in their trophy case and on Wednesday, the eight-time J. League champions added another accolade by becoming the first Asian side to reach the Club World Cup final.
But for all its wisdom and experience, not even Kashima could have predicted the turn of events in the 3-0 win against South American champion Atletico Nacional — a first-half penalty being awarded by the video assistant referee system being tested at this Club World Cup.
"I didn't know what was happening," Antlers center-half Naomichi Ueda said of the incident on the half-hour. "It was good they caught the foul and gave us a penalty for it, but we were saying out on the pitch that we had to be careful because we were being watched."