Akram Tawfik, from Al Ahly, laments during the game against Pachuca Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The game
At the beginning of the season, Al-Ahly started the match showing more physical disposition, with a high marking, putting pressure on the Mexican team. The first big chance came in the 13th minute, when Taher Mohamed took a long-range shot. Goalkeeper Carlos Moreno made the save in the left corner.
Pedraza, from Pachuca, and Taher Mohamed, from Al Ahly, compete for the ball Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Despite controlling possession of the ball, the Egyptian team found it very difficult to finish. Pachuca arrived in danger with good plays from Moroccan striker Oussama Idrissi. As time passed, the Mexican team began to venture more into attack. Al-Ahly tried to take advantage of the spaces left to mount counterattacks, but failed to finish.
In the second half, the game was truncated, and the teams tried to shoot from long distance, but without direction. The game was approaching the end without the teams being able to finish towards the goal in the second half, when in the 39th minute, Idrissi shot from outside the area and demanded a save from El Shenawy, Al-Ahly’s goalkeeper. Without goals, the definition of the finalist went to extra time.