Picture by Salim Matramkot | The Peninsula
African champions Al Ahly on Thursday clinched third position at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 after defeating Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras 3-2 on penalties following a goalless draw at Education City Stadium.
Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy emerged as hero for a good number of Al Ahly fans present at the 2022 World Cup venue, blocking Felipe Melo’s last penalty with a long dive on his right, giving the Egyptians third position for the second time in tournament’s history.
Badr Benoun, Mohamed Hani and Junior Ajayi scored for the winners with Amr El Sulaya and Marwan Mohsen failing to score. Palmeiras succumbed to the pressure as only Gustavo Gómez and Gustavo Scarpa succeeded in their spot kicks with Rony and Luiz Adriano also wasting their penalties.
Al Ahly pocketed $2.5m for winning third position while Palmeiras ended up taking $2m in prize for their participation.
Yesterday, El Shenawy was also firm during action, defying attacks from the Brazilians during the third position play-off.
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira fielded a 4-4-1-1 formation making four chances as he brought in Mayke, Melo, Patrick de Paula and Willian.
The Brazilians failed to take advantage against Al Ahly in the first session as they were missing their star pair of Mahmoud Kahraba and Hussein El Shahat - suspended by FIFA for violating coronavirus protocols.
The Brazilians slightly had an upper hand after mounting pressure on the opposition late in the first half, following a dull start to the game. Palmeiras made three shots on the target in the opening session but solid defending from El Shenawy kept them away from scoring.
The Copa Libertadores champions created their best chance, five minutes before half-time when Rony headed a ball on target but El Shenawy made a diving save on his left, pushing the ball away to concede a corner, and from that corner kick the Egyptian goalkeeper collected a near-post header from Adriano.
Yesterday, coach Pitso Mosimane had to do reshuffling in the team due to absence of key players also including Tunisian left back Ali Maaloul but Al Ahly started on a positive note looking a better side in the first 30 minutes.
Although, The Red Devils didn’t take a shot on target in first half, they created some chances with their best opportunity coming in the 26th minute. Walter Bwalya snatched the ball from Melo on the edge of the box to pass it to El Sulaya but the Egyptian midfielder’s cross in an open space was wide with just goalkeeper Weverton to beat.
In the second half after Mosimane sent in forward Ajayi and Mohamed Sherif to replace Bwalya and Afsha, Al Ahly’s goal in the 67th minute was disallo wed for offside.
Ajayi struck the ball past Weverton on a rebound after a superb scissor kick from El Sulaya but the Nigerian was declared offside.
As the game swung both sides, Al Ahly made another double substitution in 75th minute with striker Marwan Mohsen and Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng coming off the bench to replace Taher Mohamed and Akram Tawfik.
Ferreira also made three substitutions sending in Gistavo Scarpa, Danilo and Gabriel Menino but the stalemate continued pushing the game to penalties
