FIFA Club World Cup: Karim Benzema scores record-setting goal as Al Ittihad win

Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad progressed from the first round of the FIFA Club World Cup with a 3-0 win against Auckland City on Tuesday. Played in Jeddah, the Saudi Pro League champions enjoyed home support and made short work of New Zealand’s Auckland City, winners of the OFC Champions League. Romarinho, N’Golo Kante and Benzema scored in the first half to book their team’s place in the second round, where they will face Al Ahly of Egypt. The Saudi side made their dominance count in the 29th minute when a clearance came to Romarinho, whose firm strike glanced off an Auckland defender leaving the ‘keeper stranded. Al Ittihad doubled their lead five minutes later when Kante thumped a right-footed volley into the back of the net.

Karim Benzema 🤝 #ClubWC goals. pic.twitter.com/XmKZjCkSJX

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 12, 2023

The tie was effectively over after 40 minutes when winner Benzema tapped home after slick interplay down the right by Kante and Muhannad Al Shanqeeti. With the goal, Benzema, a five-time tournament winner, become the first player to score in four editions of the tournament. He took his tally in the FIFA Club World Cup to five goals from 10 appearances. The former France international trails former Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo (7) and Gareth Bale (6) in the all-time scorers list in the competition.