Karim Benzema hails fans and vows Al Ittihad will fight to go far at the Club World Cup

Karim Benzema paid tribute to Al Ittihad’s fans following his history-making goal in the Fifa Club World Cup opener on Tuesday, saying his team will “fight” to go as far as they can in the competition.

The Ittihad captain, a five-time winner of the tournament with Real Madrid, scored the third goal in the hosts’ 3-0 victory against Auckland City in Jeddah as the Club World Cup took place in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

In netting, Benzema became the first player to score in four editions of the competition. After Romarinho sent Ittihad on their way at a sell-out King Abdullah Sports City, and former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante soon doubled the home side’s lead, Benzema then completed the scoring four minutes before half time.

The Frenchman, signed in June, finished off a lovely, sweeping move to book Ittihad's spot in the second round on Friday against African champions Al Ahly.

Asked afterwards about entering the record books yet again, Benzema said: “I’m happy, but the most important was the victory. I was happy because it is very important for us to play well in front of the fans.

"The atmosphere was very nice, so we’re happy, and I’m happy to score. But the most important was to win.”

The build-up to the game had been all about Ittihad’s place in a home Club World Cup as Saudi’s representatives in the kingdom’s debut staging of the tournament. The Jeddah side qualified for the event by winning last season's Saudi Pro League.

However, defeat on Tuesday night to Oceania champions Auckland, record 11-time participants from New Zealand, would have meant Ittihad could not progress, leaving them with only fifth place to play for in the seven-team tournament.

King Abdullah Sports City absolutely rocking at the mo,