[CentOS] mate crash

While playing an audio in totem, the mate desktop crashed.

I couldn't switch to a console like I use to be able to do with 
ctrl-alt-F{n} - seems that is gone is from CentOS.

I couldn't open a terminal by right clicking on the desktop.

I was able to open a folder, navigate to /usr/bin and open 
gnome-terminal that way and issue the shutdown command.

Since switching to virtual consoles no longer seems to work, what is the 
proper way to deal with rebooting a system when the window manager with 
all its menus crashes?

CentOS 7

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Sent my from my laptop, may not be able to respond timely