LUKA MODRIC scored one goal and set up another in leading Real Madrid to the Club World Cup title by easing past host side Al Ain 4-1 Saturday.

Ballon d’Or winner Modric struck from long range in the 14th minute after a promising start by the underdog Al Ain. He then placed a corner kick for Sergio Ramos to put the result beyond doubt at 3-0 in the 79th.

Coach Santiago Solari shared the credit for Madrid’s triumph with former head coach Zinedine Zidane.

Solari, the replacement for Zidane’s short-lived successor Julen Lopetegui, was quick to pile praise on Zidane, who surprisingly stood down in the wake of winning Madrid’s third consecutive Champions League crown at the end of the 2017-18 season. “We are happy, these players deserve it,” Solari told TVE. “We are also here thanks to Zidane. It will be difficult to match in the future.”

Midfielder Marcos Llorente also scored from outside the area for Madrid’s second goal to help the European champions claim a record-extending seventh world title.

Losing 3-0, Al Ain defender Tsukasa Shiotani headed in a consolation goal, then teammate Yahia Nader scored an own goal in stoppage time.

Madrid, which has won the last three Champions Leagues, has also won the last three Club World Cups. It has three more world titles than the next best, AC Milan.

“It’s been an unforgettable year for me,” said Modric, who led Croatia to the World Cup final in July. “It’s been perfect. We won the Champions League, I had a spectacular World Cup with Croatia, and now I have won another title with Madrid. It’s been a dream year.”

Al Ain reached the final after proving to be the surprise of the short tournament. The local club from the United Arab Emirates upset South American champion River Plate in the semifinals on penalties.

Shortly after a deflected pass by Llorente hit the post in the third minute, Al Ain put a scare into Madrid with two chances from Hussein El Shahat.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to rush out to impede him from getting a great scoring chance from close range. Then, a mistake by Marcelo left El Sahat alone to round Courtois, only for Ramos to hustle back and block his shot on the line.

But the rest of the way Madrid lived up to its elite status and the talent gap was evident between the sides.

Modric put Madrid in charge a minute later when he curled an unstoppable left-footed shot around a defender and diving goalie Khalid Eisa. Then Lucas Vazquez sent a shot just by the post, Karim Benzema fired high, and Gareth Bale’s header drew a save from Eisa before halftime.

It fell to Llorente to double the lead with half an hour left when he blasted in a powerful low strike after a clearance of a corner kick fell to him outside the box.(SD-Agencies)