Will it be Pachuca? Al Ahly awaits rival in the Intercontinental Cup

By EFE

The annual tournament that replaces the Club World Cup has already begun to move

The Egyptian Al Ahly, the most successful team in Africa, did not waste its home status and certified its qualification for the semifinals of the Intercontinental Cup, in which it will face the winner of the duel between the champion of the Intercontinental Cup next December. Copa Libertadores and Pachuca of Liga MX, after beating Emirati Al Ain 3-0 this Tuesday.

A convincing victory for the Cairo team, winner of twelve African Champions League titles, the last two consecutively in 2023 and 2024, which could have been even greater, since the locals enjoyed numerous scoring opportunities.

But if the Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa prevented the first local goal in the seventh minute and a minute later it was the crossbar that stood in Al Ahly’s way, nothing could prevent the Palestinian striker from scoring in the thirty-second minute. Wessam Abou Ali took advantage of an error by Yahia Nader to make it 1-0.

A goal to which Al Ain, current champion of the Asian Champions League and coached by the Argentine Hernán Crespo, could not respond, who had his best chance in a header from the South Korean Yong-Woo Park at thirty-six minutes after he left above the crossbar.

Al Ahly put the game back on track with a goal 10 minutes into the second half from Emam Ashour, who made it 2-0 with a spectacular volley from inside the area.

A goal to which the Egyptian team added a third (3-0) in extra time when midfielder Mohamed Afsha converted a penalty committed on Omar Kamal by the Portuguese Fabio Cardoso in the 92nd minute.

Al Ahly thus sealed its pass to the semifinals of the Intercontinental Cup, in which it will face the winner of the duel that the Copa Libertadores champion and Pachuca will play three days before in the Qatari capital on December 14 in Doha. Mexican, winner of the CONCACAF Champions League.

The winner of the semi-final will also face Real Madrid on December 16 in Doha, who, as winner of the UEFA Champions League, is guaranteed a place in the final of the Intercontinental Cup.