Auckland City FC's FIFA Club World Cup campaign has come to a sudden end after losing their first round game against star-studded Al-Ittihad.
The Auckland side, which features teachers, real estate agents and construction workers among their line-up, went down 3-0 to the well-funded Saudi club.
Auckland were dominated from start to finish by the home side in front of a 50,000-strong crowd in Jeddah, with Brazilian Romarinho and Frenchmen N'Golo Kante and Karim Benzama all scoring before halftime.
Al-Ittihad couldn't manage to add to the 3-0 scoreline in the second half but still kept the Kiwis quiet, comfortably taking the win in the end to advance in the tournament as they outshot Auckland with 27 goal attempts to four.
Despite the result in heavy rain, Auckland City's Nathan Lobo still took positives out of the match.
"It's an experience of a lifetime," Lobo said.
"We don't get to play in stadiums like this and play against stars like that. It's amazing."
Having eliminated Auckland City, Al-Ittihad now advance to play Egyptian club Al Ahly with the winner of that match then taking on Brazil's Fluminense in the semifinals.
On the other side of the bracket, Mexico club Leon takes on Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds for the right to play EPL giant Manchester City in the semis.
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