Al Ahly’s FIFA Club World Cup journey ended in dramatic fashion after a pulsating 4-4 draw with FC Porto in New Jersey, a result that saw both sides eliminated at the group stage.
Jose Riveiro’s men got off to a dream start, breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute through a rapid counterattack.
Midfielder Hamdi Fathy picked out Wessam Abou Ali, who made no mistake with a composed finish into the far corner despite the tight angle.
But the Egyptians’ lead was short-lived. Rodrigo Mora brought Porto level in the 23rd minute, slicing through the defense with a dazzling solo run before calmly slotting past the keeper.
Just before halftime, Al Ahly reclaimed the lead from the penalty spot. Abou Ali stepped up and confidently buried the effort to register his second of the night.
The second half picked up right where the first left off, fast and furious. Porto drew level yet again in the 50th minute, with William finding the back of the net after a well-worked move.
But Abou Ali wasn’t done yet. Just a minute later, he completed his hat-trick with a clever finish, putting Al Ahly 3-2 up.
The back-and-forth affair continued as Samu Aghehowa struck in the 55th minute to restore parity.
Riveiro’s side surged ahead once more in the 64th minute. Bencharki delivered a smart pass to Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, who turned neatly on the edge of the box and curled a brilliant shot into the far corner.
However, just when it seemed Al Ahly might snatch the win, veteran defender Pepe came to Porto’s rescue in the 89th minute, unleashing a stunning strike that flew into the top corner.
Despite the spectacle, the result left both teams out of contention, with Al Ahly settling for third place in the group.
