Al Ain survived a major scare from New Zealand side Team Wellington, fighting back from three goals down to edge Wednesday's  pulsating opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 4-3 on penalties after the tie ended 3-3. 

The Boss have won the UAE Pro League title in four of the past seven seasons and expectations were high that they could progress into the latter stages of the competition, where the likes of River Plate and Real Madrid await. 

But the 2003 AFC Champions League winners almost succumbed to a defeat, needing a penalty shootout to advance as their defence was badly exposed by the OFC side.

Wellington sprung into an 11th-minute lead in spectacular style as Mario Barcia's 30-yard thunderbolt silenced the home fans at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

And just four minutes later the advantage was doubled as midfielder Aaron Clapham kept his cool to slot a left-footed effort past goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic looked on in disbelief as his side were picked apart with surprising ease. He had warned before the match that "nothing is impossible" and his opposite number José Figueira was certainly pinching himself at his side's start. 

A minute before the interval it got even better for the visitors, Mario Ilich pouncing at the back post to turn home Scott Cameron's corner from close range and make it 3-0 to Wellington.

Crucially, however, Al Ain gave themselves a glimmer of hope on the stroke of half-time as Japanese left-back Tsukasa Shiotani strode forward and tucked home a right-footed shot.

The Boss continued their recovery shortly after the break, ex-Wolves midfielder Tongo Doumbia - who signed for Al Ain from Dinamo Zagreb just last week - turning home Caio's cross. 

Wellington tenaciously fended off their hosts through the second period and when Caio hit the woodwork it appeared as though the underdogs might hold out for a shock win in normal time.

However, Mamic had a not-so-secret weapon to call on. Sweden striker Marcus Berg has scored 10 goals in 12 UAE Pro League games this season and his introduction from the bench in place of Jamal Maroof had a swift impact.

Just seven minutes after coming on as a substitute, Berg snatched the equaliser, his swivelling volley breaking Wellington hearts and taking the match into extra-time.

Neither side could find a breakthrough so it was left to a shootout to decide the contest. 

Berg was surprisingly the first to miss, blazing his effort over the bar, but Wellington failed to take advantage as last season's OFC Champions League top scorer Angus Kilkolly saw his effort saved by Khalid Eisa.

The Al Ain goalkeeper was to be his side's hero, also producing a smart stop from Justin Gulley to hand The Boss a dramatic 4-3 win in the shootout.

The defeat continued OFC teams' disappointing record at the FIFA Club World Cup, with the record now reading just three wins from 14 opening matches at the tournament. 

Al Ain, on the other hand, become the third UAE side to appear in the quarter-finals after Al Wahda (2010) and Al Jazira (2017).

The Boss now take on African giants Esperance in the next round on Saturday, though they will be without Mohamed Abdulrahman, who was given a red card in the last minute of extra-time for a second bookable offence.

Reigning AFC Champions League winners Kashima Antlers also begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Saturday against CONCACAF champions Guadalajara.

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