Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad have opened the Club World Cup with a win. The team of Benzema and Kanté defeated Auckland City 3-0 in the qualifiers on Tuesday evening
Al-Ittihad opened the Club World Cup with an emphatic 3-0 win in the qualifying match for the quarter-finals. Coach Marcelo Daniel Gallardo’s team scored all three goals against Auckland in the first half, meaning the game was as good as decided by half-time.
Benzema and Kanté score
The goals came within eleven minutes of each other. First, striker Romarinho made it 1:0 (29′). Just five minutes later, Kanté got himself on the scoresheet. The former Chelsea player scored from 15 meters with a drop kick following a corner. In the 40th minute, Benzema, the other prominent name from Al-Ittihad, made the difference. Al-Shanqeeti played a one-two with Kanté on the right edge of the penalty area before finding the ex-Madrilenian, who was in the perfect position, with an incisive cross and all he had to do was slot home from close range.
New format from 2025
The win sends Al-Ittihad through to the quarter-finals and they will face Al-Ahly on Friday (7pm). Manchester City will then also play in the semi-finals (December 18/19).
The Club World Cup will take place for the last time this year in its usual format. After a one-year break, the tournament will take place in 2025 with 32 teams. All six confederations will then receive starting places. Europe will be represented by twelve teams, including last year’s Champions League winners Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea FC.
