Ahly were beaten 1-0 by Saudi side Al Ittihad in the first match

Egyptian club finished last at the World Club championship in Japan on Friday, after a 2-1 defeat to the Australian side Sydney FC.

Goals from former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke and Everton reject David Carney gave Sydney the victory over the African champions.

The English element proved crucial to Sydney whose victory is the biggest of their fledgling career, helping them avoid the embarrassment of the wooden spoon in the fifth place playoff.

That honour went to the Egyptian side who came into the tournament unbeaten in a 55-game streak stretching back 18 months.

They have only themselves to blame, missing a hatful of chances that should have put the game beyond the Oceania champions reach.

Ahly had the better of the first half, relentlessly spreading the ball wide to Mohammed Barakat on the right wing who pumped balls into the box.

It was this devastating tactic that was largely responsible for their remarkable unbeaten run, which was brought to an end by Asian champions Al Ittihad in their opening match of the tournament last Sunday.

Barakat was given acres of space by Sydney and the Africans had a glorious chance to take the lead after 25 minutes when he picked out Emad Motab who sent his header sailing over the bar.

Sydney picked up the pace as they got used to the chilly conditions and took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute.

In a blast from the past, 34-year-old Yorke out jumped the Ahly defence to steer a header into the net after Steve Corica lofted a free-kick into the box.

Yorke was playing an uncharacteristic central midfield role, allowing Japanese legend Kazuyoshi Miura to play up front.

Kaza, in what could be his last game in front of a home crowd, showed flashes of his old magic, launching some nifty runs and entertaining the crowd with back heels and Cristiano Ronaldo-like oversteps.

But Ahly always looked dangerous on the break and they got their reward almost on the halftime whistle when Motab burst through the Sydney defence and rounded keeper Clint Bolton to score the equaliser.

Both sides looked vulnerable in the second half and chances went begging before Carney, who played for Everton youth before moving to Oldham, latched onto a ball from Sasho Petrovski in the 66th minute.