FIFA Club World Cup: Al Wahda 3 Hekari United 0

Papua New Guinean minnows Hekari United could not complete their fairytale at the FIFA Club World Cup after being knocked out by Al Wahda.

Hekari were surprise qualifiers for the tournament in Abu Dhabi after winning the Oceania Champions League this year, but they looked out of their depth as they went down 3-0 against the UAE champions on Wednesday.

With a quarter-final berth on offer for the winner, neither side created many chances early on with Hekari’s physical style unsettling the hosts.

But Al Wahda soon found their groove and struck two goals in the final five minutes of the first half to take the ascendancy at the break.

It was Brazilian midfielder Hugo who opened the scoring, rifling home a low drive from the edge of the area that gave Hekari goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau no chance.

Before Hekari had time to regroup it was 2-0, as Fahed Masoud played Fernando Baiano into space before the Brazilian beat Tamanisau at his near post in the 44th minute.

Al Wahda were well and truly on top after the restart and it was no surprise when they added a third goal in the 71st minute.

Tamanisau got in a dreadful mix up with his defence and flapped at a cross, allowing Abdulraheem Jumaa the simplest of headers into an unguarded goal.

The hosts had several chances to extend their lead but will no doubt be happy with the win, which sets up a quarter-final clash with AFC champions Seongnam Ilhwa.

TP Mazembe Englebert from Congo DR play CONCACAF champions Pachuca in the other quarter-final, with European champions Inter Milan and Brazil’s Copa Libertadores champions Internacional waiting in the semis.