19 June 2025 – Palmeiras claimed a vital 2-0 victory over Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a Group A fixture at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.
After a goalless first half, the breakthrough came in the 49th minute when Al Ahly’s Wessam Abou Ali scored an unfortunate own goal while attempting to clear a dangerous free-kick delivery.
Just ten minutes later, Palmeiras doubled their lead through striker José Manuel López, who capitalized on a quick counter-attack to calmly slot the ball past the Al Ahly goalkeeper.
The match was temporarily suspended in the 62nd minute due to severe weather and lightning in the area. After a delay of nearly 50 minutes, play resumed, but Al Ahly failed to mount a comeback as Palmeiras held firm.
The result puts Palmeiras at the top of Group A with four points from two matches, while Al Ahly remain with one point and face a must-win situation in their final group game to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
The victory was crucial for Palmeiras, who are aiming for a deep run in the expanded Club World Cup format. The match also featured Chelsea-bound Brazilian youngster Estêvão, who impressed with his energy and pace in the first half.
At the time of publishing, we await confirmation on the next steps for Al Ahly and whether any changes will be made to the group stage schedule due to the weather interruptions.
Stay with us for more updates from the FIFA Club World Cup.
