River cruises to take third at Cub World Cup
Gonzalo Martinez scored twice on his final River Plate appearance as the Copa Libertadores champion secured third place in the FIFA Club World Cup by beating Kashima Antlers 4-0.
Beaten on penalties by Al Ain in the semi-finals, River, which has yet to return to Argentina after its Copa triumph over rival Boca Juniors in Madrid, made light work of AFC Champions League winner Kashima.
Although Jung Seung-hyun hit the crossbar, Kashima was on the back foot from the off, Kwoun Sun-tae pulling off fine saves to deny Julian Alvarez and Santos Borre respectively.
Kashima's goalkeeper was forced off with an injury soon after, and replacement Hitoshi Sogahata had little chance of preventing Bruno Zuculini's 24th-minute header clipping in off the upright.
With Sogahata having kept out another Borre effort, Kashima almost levelled against the run of play on the stroke of half-time, but Koki Anzai's strike clattered off the woodwork.
Borre had a goal disallowed for offside after the interval, but River doubled its tally when substitute Martinez, who will join MLS club Atlanta United for 2019, hammered home from Alvarez's throughball.
Shoma Doi and Ryota Nagaki were both denied by the crossbar as Kashima rallied, but any hopes of a comeback were ended when Borre slotted home from the spot after Tomoya Inukai's foul, with Martinez's delicate chip adding further gloss in stoppage-time.