Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday fired Real Madrid into the Club World Cup final, 2-0 over Mexico's Club America.
Los Blancos face Japan's Kashima Antlers on Sunday in the same Yokohama stadium in the battle to be crowned champions of the world, after their win over the CONCACAF Champions League winners.
Benzema made the breakthrough just before half-time after a fine pass by Toni Kroos, before Ronaldo added the second in stoppage time.
The 2016 Ballon d'Or winner missed several good chances to double Madrid's lead in the second half, but ultimately it didn't matter as he eventually got his goal to seal the victory.
Substitute James Rodriguez played in the Portuguese forward who finished well, although confusion reigned in the aftermath of the goal as the referee first appeared to disallow it only to relent on advice from the video refereeing system.
There was a delay while the referee thought about his final decision and man of the match Luka Modric was critical of the new system, being trialled for the first time at this tournament.
"It's new, I don't like it, it creates too much confusion," he said. "The other day we had a meeting about it and I did not listen too much because I hope this rule does not continue. For me it's not football and I don't like it."
Modric added: "It was a very important win, we are happy for the result and for how we played after the 25th minute.
"We started weakly after the long trip and the adaptation spell. But later we played very well, creating chances, scoring two goals. We won, and we're in another final."
His coach Zinedine Zidane agreed that there was too much confusion over Ronaldo's goal.
He said: "The problem is that we have to adapt to what FIFA want to do. In this moment there was a bit of confusion, it's true. Things need to be made more clear, but the technology, what they want to use to improve things, is something we cannot control.
"If they want to improve things it's good for football, but things need to be made more clear for everyone. And they were not in this moment."
Ronaldo's strike was his 500th of his career at club level, while the victory extended Madrid's unbeaten record to 36 games.
The match was a low-key affair with America failing to create many chances and Madrid spurning many of theirs.
Ronaldo struck the post in the first half with a header after a good cross from Lucas Vazquez, who excelled on the right wing for the European champions, before connecting badly with another aerial opportunity later on with the goal gaping.
Benzema had opened the scoring in stoppage time in the first half, five seconds after the minute added on should have ended, before Ronaldo's goal sealed a controversial ending.
Madrid will be aiming to win their second edition of the tournament in three years on Sunday, after also lifting the Club World Cup in 2014.
Zidane added: "We have to rest well because we need that, there isn't much time before we play. It's the final, we came here for this and we will put in an even better performance."
