Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores thrice in Club World Cup semis

Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Gareth Bale netted a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 3-1 win against Kashima Antlers in the Club World Cup semifinals in the United Arab Emirates.

The trio of tallies came on Wednesday at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. His first goal came in the 44th minute, giving Madrid a 1-0 lead at halftime. He added his next two scores in the 53rd and 55th minute.

"I don't have to answer to anyone, I just play my football and do my best for the team," Bale told reporters. "I've played down the left, down the right and through the middle throughout my career. I'm comfortable wherever the coach sees fit. It was a tough game, but when all is said and done, we made it to the final."

Bale has six scores in the 2014, 2017 and 2018 editions of the tournament. He is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo for the most goals for the La Liga power at the Club World Cup. Bale, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the only players who have scored in three different editions of the competition.

Marcelo helped the Welsh striker get his first score. The Brazilian did a nifty give-and-go with Bale right before the break, leading him into the box for a powerful left-footed shot into the far-post netting.

Bale's next score was unassisted. He capitalized on an error by the Kashima defense during that sequence, running back and chasing down a backward pass before netting the score into an empty net.

Marcelo helped Bale score once more just two minutes later. He tapped a pass to his left on that play, finding Bale in the box. Bale ripped a left-footed shot past keeper Kwoun Sun-tae, beating him into the far-post netting once again on his final tally.

Kashima got its lone score from Shoma Doi in the 78th minute.

"He was blow everything out of the water: the lights, the nets, the stands ... He had a spellbinding match, and showed who he is and what he is capable of," Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari said of Bale.

"We are thrilled for him and now he needs to rest up and do it all again in the next match. It was a solid and serious performance from the whole group. We went into the game with our head screwed on we need do it all over again in just three days' time."

Madrid battles Al Ain in the Club World Cup final at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at ZSC Stadium.