[Joerg]

Second-half goals from Flavio and Mohamed Aboutrika gave African champions Al Ahly of Egypt a 2-0 victory over New Zealand's Auckland City in the opening match of the Club World Cup Sunday.

Angolan striker Flavio opened the scoring in the Toyota Stadium in Toyota City in the 51st minute before Aboutrika made sure of a deserved victory over the Oceania champions with a 73rd-minute free-kick.

The December 10-17 tournament features the top club teams from football's six continental confederations, with European champions Barcelona of Spain entering the fray on Thursday.

Al Ahly will now face South American champions Internacional of Brazil in Wednesday's first semi-final in Tokyo.

Barcelona come up against the winner of Monday's second quarter-final between Asian champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea and Mexico's Club America, the North and Central American Champions.

The Club World Cup began in 1960 as the Intercontinental Cup and was known from 1980 to 2004 as the Toyota Cup when it featured the top club teams from South America and Europe.

It expanded and became the Club World Cup in 2005 when Sao Paulo of Brazil beat England's Liverpool 1-0 in the final.

© 2006 DPA

[Karen In Egypt]

YAY!!! Congratulations to Egyptian club al-Ahly for winning their match today and taking 3rd place in the Club World Cup!

[Joerg]

Egypt celebrates 'third best club in the world' Ahly
Tens of thousands of Egyptians are preparing to give a heroes' welcome to Ahly players, after the African champions clinched third place in the Club World Cup in Japan.
A sea of red flags flooded the streets of Cairo Sunday after playmaker Mohamed Aboutrika lifted his team to an unprecedented result for the Egyptian club or any African outfit.
According to Egyptian radio, the team is expected to fly back from Japan in the early hours of Tuesday before a morning parade in the Egyptian metropolis on an open deck bus.
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