Karim Benzema missed a penalty as star-studded Saudi champions Al-Ittihad were humbled on home soil in Jeddah by Egypt’s Al Ahly, who progressed to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup with a 3-1 win.
N’Golo Kante and Fabinho also started for Al-Ittihad after joining the glut of big names to leave European football behind for the riches on offer in the Middle East in the summer.
Al Ahly will face South American champions Fluminense in the last four, while Manchester City will begin their quest to win the competition for the first time live on TNT Sports against Urawa Red Diamonds, who beat Club Leon 1-0.
when he and Kante netted in a 3-0 victory over Auckland City in the first round of the competition on Wednesday.
But the Frenchman had a night to forget as the 11-time African champions, backed by vociferous travelling support from Egypt, proved a step up in class that was beyond the home side.
The first half was a tale of two penalties awarded after VAR reviews for handball.
Ali Maaloul converted from the spot after Hassan Kadesh was penalised for handling a long ball into the Al-Ittihad box.
In first-half stoppage time, the roles were reversed as this time a cross into the Al Ahly box came off the outstretched arm of Mohamed Abdelmonem.
Benzema stepped forward only to see his tame spot-kick saved by Mohamed El Shenawy.
The home side had another huge chance to equalise at the start of the second half when El Shenawy turned Faisal Al-Ghamdi’s shot onto the post with Benzema begging for the ball to be squared for a tap in.
Those misses proved costly as Al Ahly wrapped up the tie with two goals in three minutes around the hour mark.
Hussein El Shahat curled beautifully into the far corner to double the Egyptians’ lead before a wonderful team counter-attack was finished off by Eman Ashour with a cool finish.
A fine night for Al Ahly ended on a sour note, though, as Anthony Modeste was sent off just minutes after coming on as a substitute for a flailing elbow.
The 10 men conceded almost immediately when Benzema snapped up the rebound after El Shenawy could only parry a header from a corner.
However, the damage was done as Al Ahly moved on to face Brazil’s Fluminense in the last four.