Auckland oust UAE champions Al Ahli as Club World Cup kicks-off in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: Auckland FC finally notched up their first and got off to a great start with a 2-0 win over UAE League champions Al Ahli 2-0 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Concacaf champions Atlante FC of Mexico in the Fifa Club World Cup 2009 opener.

Auckland scored once in each half through Adam Dickinson and Chad Coombes to kick-start the 6th edition of the $16.5 million annual event.

After an impressive opening ceremony, the UAE champions stepped on to the field and must have felt disappointed to see large empty spaces in the superbly-refurbished Mohammad Bin Stadium (attendance was 14,856 in the 42,000 capacity venue) but that did not seem to affect them as they started on an attacking note.

With the New Zealanders taking some time to settle down, Al Ahli pressed hard, but could not match their rivals’ physical play. In deep defence skipper Ivan Vicelich and the young Adam McGeorge made the most of their height advantage as they baulked the Ahli attacks.

Auckland, who relied on some fast counter attacks, were the first to get a clear chance but Adam Dickinson, getting the ball from Ian Hogg, shot straight into Ahli goalkeeper Yousuf Abdullah.

Ahli then got into the act when first Hassan Ali’s volley from way outside the box just missed the far corner while a little later Auckland custodian Jacob Spoonley watched a Yousuf Jaber shot scream past the left post, narrowly missing.

And then, much against the run of play, Auckland forged ahead. Dickinson, who had earlier messed an easy chance made amends when he sneaked into the rival box to put home a cross from Jason Hayne in the 45th minute.

Ahli should have returned with a 1-1 score at the break, but skipper Salem Khamis missed an open chance after Brazilian Bare’s shot rebounded off the goalkeeper.

Mahdi Ali, the Ahli coach brought in Mohammad Suroor after the break and nine minutes later Iranian Mehrzad Madanchi was also summoned to bolster the attack.

Ahli began to build a few threatening attacks but the most they earned from them were a few flag-kicks and then in the 67th minute Chad Coombes put the issue beyond doubt.

The 26-year-old New Zealand midfielder unleashed a powerful drive which flew past Abdullah to end the party for the UAE league champions.