Kashima, who have taken up the host nation berth at the tournament due to being Japanese champions, fell behind after 50 minutes against their New Zealand opponents.

They engineered a dramatic turnaround at the International Stadium, however, and will now continue in the tournament which features the club champions from all six FIFA continents.

Auckland, the Oceania Football Confederation Champions League winners, were making a record eighth appearance at the event and looked on course for a shock win when Kim Daewook headed home an Emiliano Tade delivery.

The Kiwis enjoyed a dream run to a third-place finish at the 2014 event but were pegged back today when Shuhei Akasaki's 67th minute shot nestled into the bottom corner.

The hosts continued to pile forward and were rewarded for their efforts when Kanazaki headed home from close range.

Kashima will now play South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, the African champions, in the quarter-finals on Sunday (December 11) at Osaka's Suita City Football Stadium.

Earlier in the day, the same venue will host the first quarter-final between South Korea's Asian champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football winners Club América of Mexico.

Spanish giants Real Madrid, the European champions, and South American winners Atlético Nacional of Colombia, have received byes to the semi-finals.

Madrid will play either Kashima of Mamelodi in the last four, with Nacional awaiting the winners of the Jeonbuk v Club América contest.