JEDDAH: Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad secured progress from the first round of the Club World Cup with a convincing 3-0 win against Auckland City on Tuesday.

Backed by a full house at home in Jeddah, Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad made short work of New Zealand’s Auckland City, winners of the OFC Champions League, as Brazilian Romarinho, N’Golo Kante and Benzema scored in the first half to book their team’s place in the second round.

The Saudi side made their dominance pay on 29 minutes when a clearance came invitingly onto Romarinho, whose firm strike from the edge of the box glanced off an Auckland defender leaving keeper Conor Tracey stranded at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Al Ittihad doubled their lead five minutes later when Kante thumped a right-footed volley into the back of the net following a weak clearance from a corner.

The tie was effectively over with 40 minutes on the clock when five-time tournament winner Benzema tapped home after slick interplay down the right by Kante and Muhannad Al Shanqeeti to become the first player to score in four different Club World Cups.

Making their first appearance in the tournament since their run to the semi-finals in 2005, Al-Ittihad set up a clash against African champions Al Ahly at the same venue on Friday.

The winners will face Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense in the semi-finals.

CONCACAF Champions League winners Leon face Asian champions Urawa Red Diamonds in their second-round tie on Friday. The victor in that fixture will meet Manchester City.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2023