The other semi-final will see Japan's Kashima Antlers, winners of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, meet the UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid, who are seeking a record fourth title this year.

The UAE Pro League champions, playing in their own Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, defeated Esperance de Tunis, winners of the Confederation of African Football Champions League, 3-0 to earn a meeting with the Copa Libertadores winners.

Kashima Antlers advanced thanks to a 3-2 win over Club Deportivo Guadalajara of Mexico, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football Champions League winners.

It took the home team - who had earned this fixture by beating Oceania champions Team Wellington 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in their first round match - just two minutes to take the lead against Esperance as Mohamed Ahmad headed home Rayan Yaslem's corner.

Fourteen minutes later it was 2-0 as Hussein Elshahat, later named man-of-the-match, converted a Yaslem pass.

The result was effectively confirmed on the hour when Bandar Al Ahbabi found the net again after Esperance had struggled to mount any effective attacks.

Kashima, who lost 4-2 to Real Madrid in extra time two years ago after becoming the first Asian team to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final, struggled to recover from an opening goal scored after three minutes by Guadalajara's Angel Zaldivar, after which their opponents played with caution.

But the Asian champions, perhaps energised by words from their coach Oiwa Go at half-time, recovered to equalise early in the second half through Ryota Nagaki.

The balance of the match had tipped, and further goals from Serginho, from the penalty spot and Hiroki Abe effectively swung the tie for the Japanese side.

Marcó Alan Pulido’s goal for the Mexicans in the last seconds was ultimately immaterial.

The semi-finals on December 19 will be preceded the day before by the fifth-place match between Guadalajara and Esperance.