Inter Miami CF faced Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a highly anticipated match held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami as part of Group A of the FIFA Club World Cup. The clash highlighted the resilience of Inter Miami, particularly through the efforts of goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, who kept his team in contention during a challenging first half.
Al Ahly completely owned the first half, producing several goal-scoring chances that forced Ustari to showcase his talents. Soon after, the Argentine keeper kept his team in it, making three crucial saves to deny Al Ahly on a few key chances. One pivotal moment occurred in the 43rd minute when Trezeguet stepped up to take a penalty kick, but Ustari’s quick reflexes kept the score level.
He noted that the squad was only “alive” in the game thanks to Ustari’s incredible display. He underscored the pitfalls they faced during that initial period. In that time, we lost a lot of balls and were exposed on the transition, which left them extremely dangerous.
Lionel Messi was relatively quiet in the first half, hitting the side netting with a free kick and having a second shot saved by Al Ahly keeper Mohamed El Shenawy. Inter Miami was the better team in the second half, coming out with significantly more energy and intent. Messi sparked an impressive championship run for the team. His creative energy, movement and playmaking skills caused havoc for Al Ahly, scaring them into a defensive shell.
Mascherano expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in the latter stages of the match, saying, “I’m happy with the performance. It was much better in the second half.” Given a moody, muted opening half with few chances and even less attacking, this resurgence was vital to the hosts Inter Miami.
Jose Riviera, who serves as the head of Inter Miami’s coaching staff, mentioned this same concept to underscore the need to take advantage of moments like these. “It’s not about what went wrong. We created a good number of opportunities in the first half to move the game into a different area. We couldn’t,” he reflected after the match. He recognized the good things that came from the second half. As he put it, “There was a lot that went right in that period and a lot that we need to get better at for the next time.”
As the game wore on, both sides looked for the opening goal. Ustari’s outstanding form remained critical as he thwarted attempts from Al Ahly’s attacking players. At the other end, El Shenawy was showcasing his talents, producing a crucial intervention to deny Tadeo Allende’s effort.
Inter Miami CF will be facing off against Porto in their first match. Rivalry renewed. Across town, Al Ahly is preparing to face Palmeiras in the other semi-final. The Egyptian side boasts an unrivalled trophy record of 155 silverware. The ranking puts them among the most successful teams in all of footballing history.
