The Saudi host Al-Ittihad Club reserved its place in the quarter-finals of the 20th edition of the Club Football World Cup, with its well-deserved major victory over New Zealand’s Auckland City, the Oceania champions, 3-0, the day before yesterday, in Jeddah.
By achieving its second victory in its second participation in the tournament that annually brings together the continental champions, in addition to the host country league champion, Al-Ittihad booked its ticket to the quarter-finals, where it will meet tomorrow at the same stadium with the Egyptian Al-Ahly, the African champion, the only team that the Saudi club defeated during its previous participation. In 2005, when he beat him in the quarter-finals 1-0, before losing in the quarter-finals to Sao Paulo of Brazil 2-3.
The team of Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo actually ended the match with Auckland in the first half, after entering the half-time break, leading the trio of Brazilian Romarinho (29), Frenchman N’Golo Kante (34) and captain Karim Benzema (40), who entered history as the first player to score in four different versions of the tournament. .
Al-Ittihad is looking to repeat the achievement of its compatriot Al-Hilal, which surprised last year in Morocco, by reaching the final before losing to Spanish Real Madrid, but the task is not easy at all in a tournament that seems closest to the English Manchester City, which is looking for its fifth crown this season, and which begins its journey starting from the semi-finals. Against the winner of the match between Leon of Mexico, the CONCACAF champion, and Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, the Asian champion.
Gallardo warned his players before facing Al-Ahly, and said in press statements: “This win is a good start for us in the tournament, which raises the confidence levels of the players and the team’s fans.”
He added, “But a more difficult confrontation awaits us against Al-Ahly of Egypt in the rest of the journey, and we must prepare for it in the best way possible.”
Club World Cup quarter-finals
December 15
Mexico’s Leon – Japan’s Urawa 18:30
Saudi Al-Ittihad – Al-Ahly of Egypt 22:00
2023-12-13 23:58:14
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