Real Madrid scored injury-time goals in each half to set up a Club World Cup final showdown with J. League champions Kashima Antlers after a 2-0 win over Mexico's Club America on Thursday.
Eleven-time European champions Madrid went into the match riding the wave of a club-record 35-game unbeaten run, but newly crowned world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo and his superstar teammates largely failed to sparkle in a flat performance at Nissan Stadium.
French striker Karim Benzema gave Madrid the lead with a first-time shot just seconds before halftime, but the Spaniards could not add any more until Ronaldo struck in the 93rd minute to seal their place in Sunday's final against surprise package Kashima.