FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP - URAWA REDS AND AL AHLY QUALIFIED
Picture : Emam Ashour scored the third goal for Al Ally.
Urawa Reds advanced to semi
- Beat Club León with a solitary goal in a hard fought game
- Sets up clash against Manchester City
Club Leon 0-1 Urawa Reds
Goalscorer: Alex Schalk 78'
Player of the Match: Yoshio Koizumi (Urawa Reds)
Backed by the hundreds of travelling fans, the Asian Champions Urawa Reds seal the win against North American champions Club Leon from Mexico 1-0. Super-sub Alex Schalk emerged as Urawa Reds’ match-winner with a flash of a brilliant movement.
Reds now booked their place in FIFA Club World Cup™ last-four and clash with the mighty Manchester City.
The Dutchman Schalk scored 12 minutes from time, and just five minutes after coming off the bench for the reds. He capitalized on Jose Kante’s clever pass to slot coolly beyond the advancing goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota from a close range.
Following a goalless fist half, at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, the reds accelerated the game flow with the positive intent. On the other hand Club Leon couldn't find the proper rhythm to trouble their Asian opponents.
Following the second yellow card converted into red for Leon captain TESILLO William in 84th minute, the Mexican club team challenge fizz out and reds celebrated the final whistle.
The Asian champions will now face the kings of Europe, led by the record-chasing Pep Guardiola, in King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday. The Red Hot Egyptian left the Yellow Tigers red-faced!
The Egyptian giants dashed hosts to set up a last-four meeting with Fluminense
Al Ahly 3-1 Al Ittihad
Goal scorers:
Al Ahly
Maaloul 21' pen, Elshahat 59, Ashour 62;
Al Ittihad FC
Benzema 92'
Player of the Match: Marawan Attia (Al Ahly)
The exhibition of skillful football was backed by courage and resolve, as Egyptian champions Al Ahly atunned hosts and star studded local favourites Al Itihad 3-1.
Al Ittihad made the waves into global football by signing legendary french and Real Madrid stricker Karim Benzema, Premier League star N'golo Kante and others. They were the hot favourite for the final showdown with European giant Manchester City.
Al Ahly landed the other coast of the red sea with other ideas too! They did not budge the pressure of the local support of the Al Itihad supporters sea of yellow. Infact, the Egyptian contingent was equal to the task, on and off the field.
The African champions produced a composed and clinical performance in this fiery all-Arab second-round clash, in which Mohamed Elshenawy cemented his legendary status by saving a Karim Benzema penalty.
The opening goal arrived midway through the opening half when Hassan Kadesh inadvertently handled a long ball over the top and a penalty was awarded. Ali Maaloul struck the ball down the middle of the goal as Abdullah Almayouf, playing at the expense of Marcelo Grohe, dived to his left.
Ittihad won a spot-kick of their own, with Mohamed Abdelmoneim penalised for handball, just before half-time. Elshenawy, however, flung himself south-east to repel Benzema, the local hopefuls' star man.
Egyptian saved the best for the Second half
Al Ahly siezed the innitiative after the breather as Al Itihad still sulked about the missed penalty.
Igor Coronado produced some breathtaking trickery and slipped Faisal Alghamdi in on goal. The latter unleashed a shot but Elshenawy was able to divert it on to the post and then pounce on the loose ball. Then, just before the hour, Hussein Elshahat’s delightful curler doubled the Ahly advantage.
An Al Ittihad comeback already looked unlikely by this stage, and the improbable became all but impossible just three minutes later when Emam Ashour stroked home to cap a slick counter-attack and further extend the Egyptian lead.
Ahly did suffer one late blow with a last-minute red card for Anthony Modeste for an elbow on Ahmed Hegazy, with Benzema scrambling home a 92nd-minute consolation - his sixth goal at the Club World Cup - soon after.
African champions had a last laugh as the final whistle was blown. They will now be clear favourites at the Monday's meeting with the kings of South Americans, FLUMINENSE FC.