Australia's Adelaide United defeated New Zealand rivals Waitakere United 2-1 as the club world cup got underway in Tokyo on Thursday.
Adelaide United captain Travis Dodd hit an 83rd-minute winner as the Australians came from behind to beat Oceania champions Waitakere United in a quarter-final play-off.
Paul Seaman put the New Zealand part-timers ahead in the 34th minute only for Daniel Mullen to level for Adelaide with a header five minutes later.
The seven-team tournament begins in earnest on Saturday and will step up a gear next week when European champions Manchester United and South American hopes Liga de Quito enter the fray.
United are regarded as favourites to keep the cup in Europe following AC Milan's victory over Boca Juniors in last year's final which brought the trophy in its present form to Europe for the first time.
Adelaide will now meet Japan's Gamba Osaka for the right to meet Manchester United in next Thursday's semi-final.
On Saturday Al Ahly of Egypt play Mexico's Pachuca, with the winner then up against Ecuador's Liga de Quito on Wednesday.
The club world cup, which brings together the club champions from football's six continental confederations, is being played for the fifth time.
It is an expanded version of the Intercontinental Cup, which was a match between the champions of Europe and South America.
Adelaide are in the tournament as runners-up to Asian champions Gamba Osaka as Japan get an automatic place as hosts.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has pledged to fly out to Japan with his strongest team.
"I think we look at this tournament as a platform for players to excel, to express themselves," he said.
"It is a world championship and any player who goes into it will want to play the right way and make an impression. To play in a tournament of this stature is wonderful for them."
United and Liga de Quito, who defeated Fluminense for the Copa Libertadores title, received byes to the semi-final stage and are favourites to meet in the final at Yokohama International Stadium on December 21.
