10 Dec 2009

Auckland City into club World Cup quarter-finals

7:52 am on 10 December 2009

Auckland City are into the quarter-finals at the FIFA club World Cup after upsetting the hosts Al Ahli 2-0 in opening match in Abu Dhabi.

It's the first win by a New Zealand side in the six years the competition's been running and the first time Auckland City or Waitakere United have scored at the seven team tournament.

Adam Dickinson and Chad Coombes scored in each half for the Oceania champions, who will now face Mexico's Atlante on Saturday.

The All White defender Ivan Vicelich controlled City's rearguard well and the home side seldom looked like scoring after Coombes struck midway through the second half.

The tournament, which runs until December. 19, brings together the champions of FIFA's six confederations as well as host team Al Ahli who've been eliminated.