Storm in New Jersey: Al Ahly Falls to Palmeiras in a Shocking 2-0 Defeat
Al Ahly loses 0-2 to Palmeiras in the international tournament after an own goal and a temporary weather-related stoppage.
Egyptian club Al Ahly suffered a painful 2-0 defeat against Brazilian side Palmeiras in a match held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, as part of the second round of the group stage in the international friendly tournament currently taking place in the United States.
Al Ahly entered the game in search of their first win after a goalless draw in the opening round against Inter Miami. The team performed well in the first half, maintaining defensive stability amid constant Brazilian pressure on goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. However, early in the second half, momentum shifted toward Palmeiras, who opened the scoring in the 49th minute after Al Ahly striker Wissam Abu Ali committed a critical error by accidentally heading the ball into his own net.
Just nine minutes later, Palmeiras added a second goal, capitalizing on a quick counterattack that overwhelmed Al Ahly's defense. The pace of the game intensified in favor of the Brazilian side, making it increasingly difficult for the Red Devils to mount a comeback.
A dramatic moment occurred in the 70th minute when English referee Anthony Taylor was forced to pause the match following safety instructions from the New Jersey State Police. Due to a sudden weather change and lightning storms around the stadium, spectators in open seating areas were evacuated and moved to safer zones inside the venue. The game resumed once weather conditions improved and fans returned to the stands.
Following this loss, Al Ahly remains with just one point from two matches, while Palmeiras climbs to four points after their earlier draw with Porto. Al Ahly’s upcoming match against Porto will be crucial in determining their fate in the tournament. It is scheduled for early Tuesday morning, alongside Palmeiras’ final group stage game against Inter Miami.
Al Ahly's lineup in the match:
Goalkeeper: Mohamed El Shenawy
Defense: Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Achraf Dari, Yehia Attia Allah
Midfield: Marwan Attia, Hamdy Fathy, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane
Attack: Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Wissam Abu Ali
Al Ahly now finds itself under increasing pressure to win the third round in order to keep qualification hopes alive, amid rising fan frustration and a clear need for significant improvement—especially in attacking effectiveness and defensive balance.
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Al Ahly is close to reaching a final agreement with Saudi club Al Riyadh for the transfer of Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet”, with positive developments bringing the deal closer to completion during the summer transfer window.
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