Summary Cristiano Ronaldo smashed a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Japan's Kashima Antlers
YOKOHAMA (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo smashed a hat-trick as Real Madrid survived a colossal scare to beat Japan s Kashima Antlers 4-2 and lift the Club World Cup on Sunday.
A Gaku Shibasaki double briefly threatened one of football s greatest ever shocks after Karim Benzema had given Real the early advantage in Yokohama.
But Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot before pouncing twice in extra time to give the Spanish giants their second world title in three years, and fifth in total.
"Bloody hell, what a game!" said a breathless Ronaldo. "We had to suffer, but that s what finals are all about.
"People always expect more of Cristiano," he added, speaking of himself in the third person.
"It has been an unforgettable year -- winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and the Euros with Portugal.
"And to score three more goals and to have such a perfect end to this dream year, it s incredible."
The victory extended Real s club record unbeaten run to 37 matches in all competitions, while French coach Zinedine Zidane surpassed Fabio Capello s record for their best start to a season.
But the European champions, yet to be defeated in 26 games this campaign, were forced to dig deep by an Antlers side who finished third in the J-League before winning the championship final.
Benzema s toe-poked opener was cancelled out on the stroke of halftime by Shibasaki, who took advantage of some calamitous defending from Raphael Varane to lash in a sharp volley.
The Japan midfielder sparked wild celebrations among a crowd of 68,000 seven minutes after the break when he smashed home a left-foot shot from long distance.
