Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho crash out of Club World Cup in their OWN STADIUM… as Al-Ittihad lose 3-1 to Egyptian side Ah-Ahly in second round with ex-Real Madrid man missing a penalty
Saudi champions Al-Ittihad exited the Club World Cup miserably after a 3-0 thrashing of Ah-Ahly in their own backyard.
Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Fabinho went into the second round with high expectations, but were stunned by the Egyptian team – and the ex-Real Madrid striker missed a penalty.
Any inspiration from the trio's six World Cup trophies – it could have been seven had Fabinho not been injured in Liverpool's 2019 victory – was invisible.
As early as the 67th minute of the ignominious defeat at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Al-Ittihad fans had already emptied their own stadium.
Ah-Ahly took a 1-0 lead after twenty minutes when Ali Maaloul scored a penalty.
Saudi champions Al-Ittihad crashed out of the Club World Cup after a 3-0 thrashing of Ah-Ahly in their own backyard
Benzema had the opportunity to restore parity on the edge of half-time, but was unable to convert from the penalty spot.
The Egyptians doubled their lead after 59 minutes when Hussein Al Sharat came in from the left side of the penalty area and curled the ball into the far corner.
And Saudi fans began to clear the pitch when Emam Ashour grabbed a third three minutes later.
Ex-Blackburn and Bundesliga man Anthony Modeste, now at Al-Ahly, came on as a late substitute but was sent off minutes later for an elbow on Ahmed Hegazi.
Benzema's predatory instincts kicked into action as he pounced on a header that came off the post in stoppage time to score a consolation.
However, it was too little too late.
Ah-Ahly will play against Brazilian Fluminense in the semi-finals.