fbarena.com
Egyptian powerhouse Ahly showcased their tactical prowess as they triumphed 3-1 over a formidable Ittihad Jeddah side on Friday, securing a spot in the Club World Cup semifinals.
Ali Maaloul opened the scoring with a confident penalty in the 21st minute, followed by goals from Hussein El Shahat at the 59th minute and Emam Ashour at the 62nd minute. Despite a late consolation goal by French striker Karim Benzema in injury time, Ahly's dominance prevailed.
The defeat was a stunning setback for the home crowd, hoping for success with star players like Golden Ball winner Benzema, alongside Premier League talents Ngolo Kante and Fabinho.
This victory marked Ahly's fifth entry into the Club World Cup semifinals, setting the stage for an intriguing clash against Brazil's Copa Libertadores champions, Fluminense, scheduled for Monday.
Right from the start, the Red Devils asserted their strength, nearly breaking the deadlock early in the game. However, valiant efforts from Egyptian defender and Ittihad Jeddah's vice-captain, Ahmed Hegazi, thwarted attempts by Mahmoud "Kahraba" Abdel-Moneim and Hussein El-Shahat.
A turning point came in the 20th minute when Ahly was awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Defender Zakaria Hawsawi handled the ball inside the box, denying Kahraba an opportunity. Maaloul confidently converted the penalty in the 21st minute, putting Ahly in the lead.
Despite Ittihad Jeddah's relentless efforts, Ahly's defensive resilience, supported by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy's exceptional saves against threats from Romarinho and Igor Coronado, preserved their slender lead.
El Shennawy showcased brilliance again by saving a penalty kick from Benzema just before the break.
The second half witnessed Ittihad Jeddah pushing forward aggressively, only to be punished by Ahly's clinical forward play.
Kahraba's instrumental setup allowed El Shahat to curl a magnificent shot into the far post at the 59th minute, followed by Ashour's close-range finish at the 62nd minute, marking his Club World Cup debut in style.
Despite dominating possession, Ittihad struggled to create meaningful opportunities, hindered by Ahly's resolute defense determined to secure victory.
In a dramatic late moment, Hegazi's powerful header struck the post in the 91st minute, falling to Benzema, who netted into an empty goal.
The game concluded on a tense note for Al Ahly as French striker Anthony Modeste received a red card in the 90th minute, reducing them to 10 men just moments after his introduction.
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