It wasn't the win they came for, but Sydney FC's triumph over African champion Al Ahly in the FIFA Club World Championship at least ensured the fledgling A-League club left Japan with more than just world football's respect.

Sydney, a club little more than a year old, downed the Egyptian heavyweights - crowned African club of the 20th century - 2-1 at Tokyo's National Stadium late Friday night to claim fifth place in the lucrative six-team tournament.

The win, the first by an Australian club at the global tournament, came just four days after the disappointment of losing 1-0 to Deportivo Saprissa and missing out on a semi-final showdown with European giants Liverpool.

It also added $800,000 to Sydney's takings for the tournament, with the $2.1 million prize money to be split between the club, Football Federation Australia and the six other Australian A-League teams.

"This is a great result for Sydney FC, this is a great result for the A-League and a great result for Australian football," Sydney FC football director and Fox Sports analyst Andy Harper said.

"To have rolled up to this tournament with a year under your belt against such an established team with everything going for it, and to get the result they deserved over the two games... its great for the game in this country."

South Melbourne had previously represented Australia and Oceania at the 2000 tournament in Brazil but, despite spirited performances, the ex-National Soccer League club came lost all three of its group games.

Al Ahly, a club founded in 1907 with 30 Egyptian titles and close to a dozen African trophies to its name, arrived in Japan on the back a 55-game unbeaten streak but will leave with the failure of consecutive losses to Al Ittihad, the Asian champions, and Sydney.

Sydney, in contrast to its heartbreaking 1-0 loss to North/Central American champion Saprissa on Monday, controlled far less of the ball against Al Ahly, but made the most of its limited chances.

Dwight Yorke, who scored for Manchester United during its CWC campaign in 2000, headed home Sydney's first from a Steve Corica free kick in the 35th minute.

Al Ahly equalised near the stroke of halftime through Emad Motab.

But Sydney grabbed its match-winning lead in the 66th when midfielder David Carney, a standout in the tournament, slotted home a deserved goal after springing the offside trap and charging onto on a quality Sasho Petrovski pass.

The result also gave Japanese great Kazuyoshi Miura a winning end to his two-month guest stint with Sydney.

"Kazu" was without doubt the star attraction at the National Stadium.

As the only Japanese player in the tournament, Miura received the loudest cheers of the night whenever he touched the ball.

When his number mistakenly went up to be replaced late in the game it brought boos from crowd.

"I'd never take Kazu out of Japan," said coach Pierre Littbarski of the mix-up.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP