LIVE: Ahly v Porto (Club World Cup)
Hussein Elshahat #14 of Al Ahly FC runs with the ball under pressure from Emiliano Martinez #32 of Palmeiras during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between SE Palmeiras and Al Ahly SC at MetLife Stadium on June 19, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. AFP
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Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Palmeiras edge Brazilian rivals Botafogo in extra time at Club World Cup
The winger came on at the same time in the second half as Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira withdrew teenage sensation Estevao Willian, a move that appeared baffling at the time but ultimately proved inspired. The tie had reached the 100th minute when Paulinho collected a pass by Richard Rios on the right flank and was afforded the time and space to come inside into the box before slotting a low shot into the far corner. That sparked wild celebrations among the Palmeiras fans who made up the vast majority of the 33,657 crowd inside Lincoln Financial Field, and the side from Sao Paulo held on to win the last-16 showdown despite having captain Gustavo Gomez sent off late on. Winners of the Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021, Palmeiras will now stay in Philadelphia for a last-eight tie next Friday against either Benfica or Chelsea, who meet later Saturday in Charlotte. They had been the more dangerous side throughout in this meeting of the top two in last year's Brazilian league, with almost all of the chances falling the way of the men in green. Rio de Janeiro side Botafogo pipped Palmeiras to the domestic title and also won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history in 2024. They then lost their coach and several key players, but still managed to beat European champions Paris Saint-Germain during the group stage of the Club World Cup as they qualified for the knockout phase ahead of Atletico Madrid. Nevertheless, Palmeiras were the more lively of the two teams in a game played in warm midday conditions in Philadelphia. Estevao taken off All eyes were on Estevao, the 18-year-old winger who will join Chelsea once the tournament is over and is seen as Brazil's next big thing. He found it hard to make an impact in what was for long spells a disappointing game pockmarked by moments of quality. Colombian midfielder Rios came close to scoring in first-half stoppage time with a thunderous shot from the edge of the box that was deflected onto the roof of the net. Estevao then came to life after the restart, forcing a good save from Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor and then putting the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag. There was surprise around the stadium when the starlet was taken off just after the hour mark alongside striker Vitor Roque, with Luighi and Paulinho sent into the attack. A Mauricio header from a Joaquin Piquerez cross was tipped over and Paulinho then blazed high from a good position as normal time ended goalless. Into the extra half-hour they went, and a Rios piledriver was parried behind before the goal finally arrived thanks to the once-capped Brazil winger who played in the Atletico Mineiro side beaten by Botafogo in last year's Libertadores final. The substitute was then promptly substituted, his job done for the day. Botafogo pushed for an equaliser that would have led to a penalty shoot-out, but could not find it even after Paraguayan centre-back Gomez walked for a second booking in the 116th minute for grappling off the ball with Alexander Barboza. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Messi's PSG reunion, Real Madrid face Juventus in Club World Cup last 16
Palmeiras v Botafogo All four Brazilian representatives reached the last 16 and at least one will be in the quarter-finals, as Palmeiras and Botafogo face each other. Botafogo are the reigning Brazilian and South American champions and eat European chmpions PSG on the way to qualifying from their group at Atletico Madrid's expense. Sao Paulo side Palmeiras -- featuring Brazil prodigy and future Chelsea winger Estevao Willian -- won their group and are above Botafogo in the Brazilian league. However, Botafogo are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Palmeiras, including the two legs of a Copa Libertadores last-16 tie last year. Benfica v Chelsea Enzo Maresca's Chelsea finished second in their group but avoided a strong Bayern Munich side by doing so, pitting them against Benfica. The Portuguese powerhouses, who boast veteran playmaker Angel Di Maria, edged the German giants in their final group game. Benfica will believe they can upset their inconsistent Premier League opposition and former Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez. New Chelsea striker Liam Delap is looking to continue adding to his tally after getting off the mark in the group stage. Paris Saint-Germain v Inter Miami Messi's Inter Miami were a surprise package in the group stage, beating Porto on their way to progressing to the last 16, but a late collapse against Palmeiras meant they finished second and must face the Argentine playmaker's former side PSG. This season PSG ended a long wait to win the Champions League for the first time and Luis Enrique's side are expected to vanquish their MLS opponents, but Botafogo beat them in the group stage to prove they are not untouchable. Flamengo v Bayern Munich Brazilian side Flamengo stunned Chelsea in the group phase to claim top spot but must overcome the might of Vincent Kompany's Bayern if they are to progress. With Harry Kane, Michael Olise and a Thomas Mueller looking to end his time at Bayern with a new trophy, the possession-hungry Bundesliga giants have as much firepower as anyone left in the tournament. Highly rated Flamengo coach Filipe Luis has his work cut out to keep Bayern at bay. Inter Milan v Fluminense Recent runners-up in the Champions League, Inter ground out wins over Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate to finish top of their group and will now hope to avoid becoming the latest European team to stumble against Brazilian opposition. Fluminense, of Rio, held Borussia Dortmund en route to qualifying for this stage and will be full of motivation to claim a major scalp against Cristian Chivu's side. Manchester City v Al Hilal City come into the knockout phase in ominous form after being the only team at the tournament to win all three group games. They have scored 11 times in their last two matches, with a 5-2 destruction of Juventus coming after they put six past Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates. A game against Al Hilal, the 2021 Asian champions, will give City no reason to be afraid, even if the Saudi club boast numerous former stars of leading European leagues, including Joao Cancelo. Real Madrid v Juventus This is a clash between two traditional European titans who have met 21 times before. There have been two Champions League finals between the clubs, both won by Real. A 5-2 defeat for Juventus against Manchester City suggests they may find the going tough against Madrid. Real are adapting to life under a new coach in Xabi Alonso, who experimented with a three-man defence against Salzburg. He will hope to have Kylian Mbappe back after the Frenchman missed the group stage with illness. Borussia Dortmund v Monterrey Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has not held back on expressing his feelings about having to play in extreme heat at the tournament so he will be happy the game against Mexican side Monterrey is at the covered and air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite their complaints Dortmund have grown into the tournament. They face former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos and a Monterrey team that has impressed, notably a creditable draw against Inter Milan. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Messi and Inter Miami relishing reunion with PSG and Enrique
Miami were surprise qualifiers from Group A after beating Porto and drawing with Palmeiras and Al Ahly and now face the daunting task of playing the recently crowned European champions. Messi joined Miami after two seasons in the French capital and made clear he had not enjoyed his time with PSG. "It's clear that it would better for us if he was angry, because he's one of those players who, when he has something in mind, gives a bit extra," Mascherano told ESPN. The Argentine coach was clear though that the emotions will be less than if Messi were up against PSG on European soil rather than facing his old team in Atlanta. "I think that's in the past now, it's another story. Also, the fact that it's here in the United States, I don't think the atmosphere will be the same, but what we will try to do is play a great game. We know that in order to have a chance, we have to play a perfect game, and well, we'll go for it," he said. After joining Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi reflected on his time in Paris saying it had been "difficult". "I spent two years that I didn't enjoy. I wasn't happy on a day-to-day basis, with the training sessions, the games, I found it hard to adapt to all that," he said. The eight-times Ballon d'Or winner will face a very different PGS to the one that he left with the club having been transformed under Spanish coach Luis Enrique. Luis Enrique is a familiar face for several of the Miami team who played under him at Barcelona. 'He's the best' Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Messi and Mascherano all featured for Enrique's Barca, winning the treble under him in 2015. "I've said it infinite times: For me, he's the best – I think not just as a coach, but also how he manages the group," said Alba, who also worked with Luis Enrique with the Spanish national team. "He's a phenomenon. I'm excited to see him, as well as his entire staff. I'll give him a hug but when the ref blows the opening whistle, try to beat him. Which is what all of us here are trying to do" added the left-back. Suarez, who scored in the 2-2 draw with Palmeiras on Monday, was also full of praise for the Spanish coach. "For me, along with Maestro (Oscar) Tabarez of the (Uruguay) national team, he was the most important coach of my career, for what they taught me, for what I learned in the day-to-day with them," he said. "He's a coach who influenced me greatly. I already had a competitive DNA, but he injected even more into me. He taught me how to move within a space where I had to play a role I wasn't used to, not touching the ball a lot … Not to mention on a personal level, a relationship of great respect and admiration for what he generated for us as players." Mascherano, in his first club coaching job, said he remains a personal friend of the PSG coach and his family. "That is the beautiful thing about football sometimes. You face these kind of things and, well, in my opinion, I do not deserve this as a coach just yet. But yes, it will be a very beautiful opportunity. I always wish him all the best; that won't be the case for Sunday. I hope luck will be on our side on Sunday. But yes, I have a very good relationship with him. I appreciate him a lot," he said. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
