River crush Kashima to finish third in Club World Cup

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Third Place Playoff Match - Kashima Antlers v River Plate - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018 River Plate's Rafael Borre scores their third goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - South American champions River Plate thrashed Japanese side Kashima Antlers 4-0 in the third place playoff at the Club World Cup on Saturday.

Argentine side River, who beat arch-rivals Boca Juniors to win the Copa Libertadores this month but suffered a humiliating defeat by Al Ain in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals, took the lead midway through the first half with a header from midfielder Bruno Zuculini.

Gonzalo "Pity" Martinez signed off from a memorable career with the Argentine club, including two Copa Libertadores triumphs, by scoring twice in the second half after coming off the bench in his last appearance before heading to MLS side Atlanta United.

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Third Place Playoff Match - Kashima Antlers v River Plate - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018 River Plate's Rafael Borre celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Martinez increased River's lead in the 73rd minute and completed the thrashing with a chipped finish in stoppage time after Colombian striker Rafael Santos Borre had scored the third goal from the penalty spot.

European champions Real Madrid, who beat Kashima 3-1 in the semi-finals, face Al Ain in the final later on Saturday.

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Third Place Playoff Match - Kashima Antlers v River Plate - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018 River Plate's Lucas Martinez in action with Kashima Antlers' Serginho REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

(Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Third Place Playoff Match - Kashima Antlers v River Plate - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018 River Plate's German Lux celebrates with Javier Pinola after the match REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Third Place Playoff Match - Kashima Antlers v River Plate - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018 River Plate's Rafael Borre celebrates scoring their third goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Third Place Playoff Match - Kashima Antlers v River Plate - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018 River Plate's Gonzalo Martinez celebrates scoring their fourth goal with team mates REUTERS/Andrew Boyers