Al Ahly claim Club World Cup bronze medal for second consecutive year
African champions Al Ahly have clinched the Club World Cup bronze medal for a second consecutive year following a historic 4-0 victory over Asian champions Al Hilal.
The Reds made it to the third-placed match playoff after beating Mexico’s C.F. Monterrey in the second round, before losing to Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras.
Meanwhile, Saudi giants Al Hilal had knocked out hosts Al Jazira 6-1 in their opening game as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to European champions, Chelsea, in the semi-finals.
Al Ahly got things running in their favor as early as the first quarter as they scored two goals and got Al Hilal’s star man Matheus Pereira sent off following a reckless challenge on Amr El-Sulya.
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Yasser Ibrahim’s brace of opportunistic headers from close range handed Al Ahly the lead with the first coming in the 9th minute after he connected to Ali Maaloul’s freekick and the second in the 17th minute after pouncing on a lose ball after the keeper parried away a rocket shot launched by Mohamed Hany.
Just one minute, Al Hilal received another straight red card as Mohamed Kanno kicked Yasser Ibrahim out of play. The referee had to consult the VAR before showing his second red card of the game.
Great teamwork display from Al Ahly led to Ali Maaloul finding Abdelkader inside the box as he dribbled past the defence with a brilliant skillful run, before finding the back of the net in the 40th minute to move the Red Devils to 3-0.
At the half-time break, Mosimane brought on Karim Fouad and Hussein El-Shahat for Mohamed Hany and Taher Mohamed.
The fourth however did come in the 64th minute through a stunner from Amr El-Sulya to record Al Ahly’s biggest-ever victory in the Club World Cup.
The record African champions have now won bronze at the club World Cup on three occasions after their 2006 and 2020 exploits.
