HUNDREDS of Japanese fans showed up at the crack of dawn to greet Real Madrid as the players arrived in Japan yesterday to contest the Club World Cup.

    Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, the European champions arrived shortly after 5 a.m. and were met by about 300 fans at Tokyo’s Haneda airport before boarding a team bus.

    Zinedine Zidane’s team held a practice session later yesterday in Yokohama as they prepare for Thursday’s semifinal clash with Mexico’s Club America.

    Madrid set a new club record after a 35th consecutive match without a loss by beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 Saturday.

    The side return to the competition with 13 of the players who lifted the Club World Cup title in 2014, when the team beat San Lorenzo in the final.

    Meanwhile, Silvio Romero scored two second-half goals as Mexico’s Club America beat South Korean side Jeonbuk Motors 2-1 in the Club World Cup in Japan on Sunday.

    Romero converted a corner kick by Michael Arroyo in the 74th minute to send his team to a semifinal clash with tournament favorite Real on Thursday.

    “This was a night I’ve dreamed about,” Romero said. “To be able to score two goals in such a big tournament I feel like I’ve achieved something big.”

    Kim Bo-kyung gave Asian champion Jeonbuk a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute but Romero, who hit the crossbar with a solo effort before the break, equalized in the 58th.

    Club America lost to China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in the first round last year.

    “We were able to exceed the results of last year,” said Club America coach Ricardo La Volpe. “Mexican football is competitive and I think we were able to demonstrate that.”

    Club America was crowned CONCACAF champion for the second year in a row in April, after beating compatriot Tigres in the final.(SD-Agencies)