FC Porto and Al Ahly tied in the Club World Cup and are eliminated from the competition
FC Porto failed to achieve the objectives they set for themselves and were eliminated from the Club World Cup, taking place in the United States, after drawing 4-4 with Egyptian side Al Ahly in the third and final round of Group A.
At the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Al Ahly started the match better and after just 3 minutes the first danger arose with a shot from mid-range by Abou Ali, with the ball going over the bar of Cláudio Ramos’ goal. After 15 minutes, the Egyptian team scored . Al Ahly recovered the ball and Abdou Ali, already inside the area, shot across goal into the back of Cláudio Ramos’ goal.
FC Porto responded with a shot from William Gomes. The ball went over Al Ahly’s goal, but it was FC Porto’s first attempt at danger after 20 minutes. In a stop-and-go game, and after a goal disallowed for offside by Al Ahly, FC Porto equalized through Rodrigo Mora . A great play and ‘work of art’ by the young Dragon, who left two defenders behind, entered the area, got past goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawi and shot.
After FC Porto equalised, the game dropped in intensity with both teams controlling the game more and controlling possession better. However, after losing possession, Al Ahly came close to taking the lead again. Cláudio Ramos came out of goal quickly to block Zizo’s shot.
In injury time in the first half, Fábio Vieira conceded a penalty which was converted by Abou Ali, who scored his second goal of the match. Al Ahly were 2-1 ahead at half-time .
A crazy second half
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Anselmi made two substitutions for the second half of the match. Alan Varela and Danny Loader came off, and Samu and Gonçalo Borges came on, and the changes had an immediate effect. Samu headed the ball wide from the centre of the area after a cross from Gonçalo Borges. FC Porto started the second half better and equalised with a beautiful shot from William Gomes . The young Brazilian winger cut inside and curled a great goal with his right foot.
But the goal was short-lived. Al Ahly immediately responded by taking the lead again with Abou Ali scoring a hat-trick . A cross from the right and the forward made no mistake with a header. FC Porto responded a minute later and Samu levelled the match again, 3-3 . A corner taken by Fábio Vieira from the right was scored by the Spanish forward who headed the ball in.
The start of the second half was more like a tennis match with both sides responding. Close to the hour mark, Al Ahly made a triple substitution, with Abou Ali, Trezeguet and El Shalat coming off and Nejc Gradisar, Achraf Bencharki and Omar Kamal coming on. The blue and white coach responded by bringing on Martim Fernandes to replace João Mário.
In the 64th minute, Al Ahly took the lead again. What a great goal from the Egyptian team. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane curled a shot from outside the area, leaving Cláudio Ramos with no chance of stopping. The blue and whites were now chasing the deficit and Gonçalo Borges was inches away from scoring. The goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawi saved the ball and deflected it for a corner.
In the last 10 minutes of the match, Samu headed in the equaliser. What a miss from the Spanish forward. A great move and a well-timed cross from Gonçalo Borges, but Samu missed the target blatantly. Al Ahly had two great opportunities to extend their lead, but the Egyptians were wrong. And, as the saying goes, “those who don’t score, suffer”. FC Porto equalised again through Pepê just before the 90th minute . In injury time, and with the game already completely divided on both sides, there were scoring opportunities and mistakes from both teams.
With this draw, FC Porto and Al Ahly are eliminated from the Club World Cup. In the other game, Inter Miami and Palmeiras also drew 2-2 and are through to the round of 16 of the competition.
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