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Karim Benzema scored his fifth goal in 10 Club World Cup matches to put Al-Ittihad 3-0 up against Auckland City

Karim Benzema became the first player to score in four Fifa Club World Cups as Al-Ittihad opened the 2023 edition with a 3-0 win over Auckland City.

Benzema completed the scoring following goals by Romarinho and former Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante.

Saudi Pro League holders Al-Ittihad are representing the host nation and face African representatives Al Ahly in the second round.

European champions Manchester City enter the cup at the semi-final stage.

Al-Ittihad defeated New Zealand side Auckland City, who were representing Oceania at the tournament, with three goals in 11 first-half minutes.

Brazilian forward Romarinho opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a deflected effort before Kante doubled the lead five minutes later with a superb strike from a loose ball in the box.

Benzema then completed the scoring frenzy in the 40th minute to set up Friday's tie with Al Ahly of Egypt.

The winners will face Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense in the semi-finals. Premier League champions Manchester City are in the other half of the draw, and face Mexico's Leon or Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds on 19 December.

Benzema, 35, is appearing in his sixth Club World Cup having played in five with Real Madrid.

He has won every Club World Cup in which he has previously played, in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022.

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsAl-Ittihad

Formation 4-3-3

34Grohe13Al Shanqiti26Hegazy15Mahboob12Hawsawi8Fabinho7Kanté16Al Ghamdi90da Silva9Benzema10Coronado

34Grohe13Al Shanqiti26Hegazy15Mahboob12HawsawiSubstituted forBamasudat 85'minutes8Fabinho7KantéSubstituted forAl Jaman Al Amriat 78'minutes16Al GhamdiSubstituted forAl Sahafiat 85'minutes90da SilvaSubstituted forNeves Filipeat 59'minutes9Benzema10CoronadoSubstituted forJamalat 78'minutes

Substitutes

1Al Muaiouf4Om Hawsawi6Jamal11Neves Filipe17Al Sahafi25Salmeen Al Menhali28Bamasud33Al Olayan77Al Jaman Al Amri88Al Mermesh99Hamed Allah

Auckland City

Formation 5-4-1

1Tracey12Murati14Vale25den Heijer4Gray13Lobo8Garriga2Ilich7Howieson10Manickum19Gillion

1Tracey12MuratiSubstituted forKilkollyat 83'minutes14Vale25den Heijer4GraySubstituted forMitchellat 84'minutes13Lobo8GarrigaSubstituted forLeeat 57'minutes2IlichSubstituted forZhouat 68'minutes7Howieson10ManickumSubstituted forTadeat 68'minutes19Gillion

Substitutes

3Mitchell5Boulet6Bell9Kilkolly11De Vries15Carey16Lee18Ciganda20Tade22Zhou23Rogers24Wallis

Referee:Tori PensoAttendance:50,248Match StatsHome TeamAl-IttihadAway TeamAuckland CityPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome30Away4Shots on TargetHome11Away0CornersHome9Away5FoulsHome9Away8Live Text Post update

Match ends, Al-Ittihad 3, Auckland City 0.

90'+4'Full Time

Second Half ends, Al-Ittihad 3, Auckland City 0.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by Sultan Farhan (Al-Ittihad).

90'+3'Post update

Joseph Lee (Auckland City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt blocked. Jota (Al-Ittihad) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Saleh Al Amri.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jota.

90'+2'Post update

Corner, Auckland City. Conceded by Ahmed Hegazy.

90'+2'Post update

Attempt blocked. Emiliano Tade (Auckland City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joseph Lee.

86'Post update

Attempt saved. Saleh Al Amri (Al-Ittihad) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jota.

85'Post update

Attempt blocked. Emiliano Tade (Auckland City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

85'Substitution

Substitution, Al-Ittihad. Ahmed Bamasud replaces Zakaria Al Hawsawi because of an injury.

85'Substitution

Substitution, Al-Ittihad. Marwan Al Sahafi replaces Faisal Al Ghamdi.

85'Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

84'Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Zakaria Al Hawsawi (Al-Ittihad).

84'Substitution

Substitution, Auckland City. Adam Mitchell replaces Christian Gray.

83'Substitution

Substitution, Auckland City. Angus Kilkolly replaces Regont Murati.

78'Post update

Attempt missed. Sultan Farhan (Al-Ittihad) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.

78'Substitution

Substitution, Al-Ittihad. Sultan Farhan replaces Igor Coronado.

78'Substitution

Substitution, Al-Ittihad. Saleh Al Amri replaces N'Golo Kanté.

77'Post update

Corner, Al-Ittihad. Conceded by Christian Gray.

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Source: bbc.com