Al Hilal ease past Al Jazira to set up showdown with Chelsea in Club World Cup

Odion Ighalo made a triumphant start in the blue of Al Hilal by helping send his new team through to face Chelsea in the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

The Nigeria striker, who was on loan with Manchester United a little over a year ago, was on the scoresheet on debut as Hilal beat Al Jazira 6-1 at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

The side from Riyadh will now face the champions of Europe in the tournament’s second semifinal at the same venue on Wednesday night.

Hilal may be reigning champions of Asia – and, indeed, four-time winners of that title – but Jazira showed little respect for that status as they flew out of the blocks. The home team had far the brighter of the early exchanges.

They might have gone ahead in the second minute but Victor Sa, their Brazilian striker, was bravely blocked at close range by Abdullah Al Mayouf, the Hilal captain and goalkeeper.

Al Mayouf was Sa’s nemesis a number of times in the opening phase. He denied him again midway through the half, a double save after Sa had been through one-on-one. From the ensuing corner, Moroccan full back Mohammed Rabii headed inches past the post.

By that point, Jazira were already ahead and pushing to double their advantage. Abdoulay Diaby, the livewire attacker from Mali, scored the opener when he turned in an inch-perfect right-wing cross by Rabii.

Despite the joy Jazira were having going forward in attack, Hilal were beginning the bring their class to bear going the other way.

Ali Khaseif, Jazira’s goalkeeper whose career had one of its great highlights when he went up against Real Madrid’s galacticos in this competition in 2017, saved well from Salem Al Dawsari and Moussa Marega.

But unlike when he was up against Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Co four