Club World Cup: Romarinho nets a stunner as Al Jazira get tournament under way with win against Auckland City

ROMARINHO netted a screamer to fire Al Jazira within a game of a showdown with Real Madrid.

The United Arab Emirates champions beat Auckland City 1-0 in the opening match of the Fifa Club World Cup in Al Ain.

5

The host representatives booked a quarter-final clash with Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds on December 9, with the winners going on to face Cristiano Ronaldo and co.

Mexico's Pachua and Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca also play that day, with the sides hoping to book a clash with Brazilian side Gremio.

The tournament got off to a flyer when Romarinho - who once played a staggering 139 games in three seasons for Corinthians - fired in from 30 yards at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

The 37th-minute effort proved enough to get the job done.

5

MOST READ IN FOOTBALL

SKY'S THE LIMIT

Rooney to be given immediate return to work in big-money deal after axe

snap back

England star Kieran Trippier locked in row with wife as he breaks major rule

BOW OUT

Jarrod Bowen suffers fractured foot and facing lengthy spell on sidelines

HIT THE ROAD, TRIP

Newcastle ready to cash in on Kieran Trippier in January transfer window

5

5

Romarinho exchanged passes with Ali Mabkhout and drilled beyond Auckland keeper Enaut Zubikari.

New Zealand side Auckland, Oceania champions, were making a record ninth appearance in the competition but were made to pay for Callum McCourt missing from 12 yards.

FULL ENGLI5H Fab five Prem teams in Champions League last 16... here's who they could face

The forward, 19, latched onto a Ryan de Vries pull-back but fired a weak shot straight at Ali Khaseif in Al Jazira's goal.

Al Jazira now face Urawa Red Diamonds, winners of last month’s Asian Champions League, in the last eight at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City on Saturday.

5