In the second round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage, Palmeiras defeated Egypt’s Al Ahly with a 2–0 scoreline at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
In the first round, both teams played out goalless draws: Al Ahly against Inter Miami, and Palmeiras against Porto.
Match Recap: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly
The first half began cautiously. The Egyptians held more possession early on, but created no real danger.
Midway through the half, Palmeiras began to pick up pace. Estevão and Vitor Roque each had good chances, but the ball stayed out of the net.
The key moment came when Rafael Veiga committed a foul. Referee initially showed a red card, but after consulting VAR, downgraded it to a yellow. The score remained 0–0 at halftime.
The deadlock was broken early in the second half – by Al Ahly themselves. Following a free-kick from the left flank, Wessam Abou Ali headed the ball beautifully… into his own net. Palmeiras took a 1–0 lead.
In the 59th minute, Palmeiras launched a devastating counterattack following a free-kick clearance. Maurício played a perfect through ball, and López outran Hany before coolly slotting it past the goalkeeper — 2–0.
Immediately after the second goal, the game was unexpectedly halted. A hurricane and thunderstorm were approaching MetLife Stadium. Players returned to the dressing rooms. Spectators were asked to seek shelter in safe zones around the stadium.
About 30 minutes later, the match resumed. Al Ahly’s coach made four substitutions in an attempt to spark a comeback, but it had no effect. The Egyptians looked tired and demoralized.
Palmeiras remained calm, controlling the match, disrupting the rhythm, and never allowing the opponent a chance. The final whistle blew — 2–0.
What’s Next: Upcoming Fixtures
After the second round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage, Group A is heating up.
- Palmeiras now lead the group and will face Inter Miami in the final group match. A win would guarantee them a place in the knockout stage.
- Al Ahly, with just 1 point, still have a theoretical chance of advancing. However, they face a tough task against Porto, where only a win and a favorable result in the other match will keep their hopes alive.
