MIAMI – It all came down to a tense penalty shootout where Mexico’s Pachuca triumphed over Egyptian titans Al Ahly 5-3, after a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate at Inter Miami’s stadium. Both squads were firing on all cylinders as they finalized their battle plans for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
TREZEGUET’S STRIKE NOT ENOUGH AS PACHUCA’S KENNEDY AND PERFECT PENS SINK AHLY
A tale of two goal scorers and one cruel twist of fate defined the high-octane Club World Cup warm-up between Al Ahly and Pachuca. While Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ lit up the second half, it was John Kennedy’s early strike and Pachuca’s flawless shootout performance that ultimately sealed the deal.
Under new head coach Jose Riveiro, who immediately slotted Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane into the starting lineup, Ahly were caught cold. Pachuca’s Brazilian forward John Kennedy pounced in the 11th minute, capping off a beautifully crafted assist from Agustín Palavecino to stun the Egyptian champions.
Ahly needed a hero, and they found one in Trezeguet. The dynamic winger leveled the score just after halftime, latching onto a defense-splitting pass from Hamdi Fathi to breathe new life into the contest. The game also saw the much-anticipated debut of superstar Ahmed Sayed Zizo, who was thrown into the fray despite only just arriving at camp.
Despite late chances to snatch the victory, Ahly couldn’t get past the finish line. The match hurtled towards a penalty decider, where Pachuca showed nerves of steel. As they buried all five of their kicks, the pressure mounted on Ahly’s Omar Kamal, whose shot tragically ricocheted off the woodwork, handing the win and valuable momentum to the Mexican champions.
Match Highlights
