Nicolas Anelka finally opened his goal account for Real Madrid in bizarre fashion as the Spanish giants overwhelmed Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nassr 3-1 in Sao Paulo.
The Stg£23 million summer capture from Arsenal recorded the first-ever goal in the World Club Championships with a freak block that looped in from 20 yards to put the Spanish side ahead.
Anelka, who had not previously scored for the seven-times European Cup winners in 16 games, sealed the game by winning a 69th minute penalty, converted by Brazilian midfielder Savio.
Real had earned their ticket to this tournament on the basis that at the time of entry they were reigning World Champions by virtue of their 1998 Intercontinental Cup Final win over Vasco da Gama of Brazil.
Al Nassr, who qualified for the FIFA tournament by winning the Asian Super Cup in 1998, had created a shock by equalising in first-half injury time only for another bizarre incident - an own goal from goalkeeper Mohammed Babkr - to allow Real to regain the lead.
After a quiet opening, Anelka (20) chased a seemingly harmless through ball from Guti.
The French international striker blocked an attempted defensive clearance by Ibrahim Al Shokia just outside the penalty area and watched as the ball looped over Babkr to put his side ahead on 22 minutes.
Ahmed Bahja, bought by the mega-rich Saudis especially for the tournament, was proving to be the biggest threat in a game of slow tempo, a thumping 25-yard free-kick forcing Casillas into a smart save.
And it was the lively striker Bahja who got Al Nassr back into the game on the stroke of halftime, charging into the penalty area and going down under Christian Karembeu's challenge.
Al Husseini calmly slotted the equaliser from the spot.
But Al Nassr squandered the chance of a surprise result by gifting Real a second goal in the 62nd minute - Babkr, under no pressure at all, seemingly having Geremi Njitap's left-wing cross covered, only to palm the ball over his goal-line. Raul followed up to make sure.
English international Steve McManaman was employed as a second-half substitute but it was the other former Premiership star, Anelka, who sealed the game, turning in the area and being brought down by Babkr.
Real Madrid: I Casillas, J Salgado, F Hierro (A Karanka, 77), C Karembeu, R Carlos, J Gutierrez (S McManaman 66), F Redondo, G Njitap, N Anelka, Savio (M Sanchis 71), R Gonzalez.
Al Nassr: M Babkr, M Al Harthi, H Sharify, I Al Shokia, A Al Karni, M Al Mousa, M Saib (I Triki, 66), F Al Husseini (H Al Khathran, 78), A Bahji, F Al Amin, M Al Dosari (F Mehalel, 80).
Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)
