The first match of the Club World Cup may have ended in a 0-0 draw between Al Ahly and Inter Miami, but it wasn't for a lack of trying at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. Trezeguet missed a penalty in the first half of play, Lionel Messi's free kick evaded the wall in the second half but was just slightly wide, and the Argentine saw a late chance of his saved off the crossbar in a wild affair.
Al Ahly keeper Mohamed El Shenawi ended the game in cramps on the pitch as he and Miami keeper Oscar Ustari were easily the men of the match. The true winner of this clash could be Brazilian side Palmeiras or Portuguese side Porto, with Group A wide open following the draw. El Shenawi made six saves during the match while Ustari made eight, including on a penalty, as there was plenty of action for a goalless draw. Al Ahly will feel hard done for not getting points after generating an xG of 1.98 compared to Miami's 0.70. But Messi was also this close to finding the back of the net:
Next up, Inter Miami will face Porto on Thursday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Portuguese side is expected to top Group A, so it'll be a tough test for the Herons as they need to avoid defet. Al Ahly will face Brazilian side Palmeiras on June 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The Herons were lucky to end with 11 men but somehow this match ended without a goal as both keepers stood on their heads for the 90 minutes. It was as entertaining as a goalless draw can be, featuring a penalty save and plenty of strong changes. Both teams put 13 shots on net between them but with none passing a keeper, this is anyone's group.
Three minutes of stoppage time remain and it seems like this may be ending level.
Almost an instant impact, with Picault's header being saved by Mohamed El Shenawi in a dangerous position. The Al Ahly keeper has gone down with cramps as these players are giving their all.
The game still needs a goal, and Miami will bring on the fresh legs of Fafa Picault to inject pace into the match.
Miami has another corner, and the pressure for a goal is rising in this game. Neither team wants a 0-0 draw.
Messi had a free kick in a dangerous position and curled it around he entire wall. It was just wide curling around the outside post but the shot had everyone fooled.
Messi had a shot on target that turned into an easy save but it's Miami's first real chance in transition. To win this they'll need more of that as neither team wants to drop points in this opening match.
Aviles will leave the match at halftime and Ian Fray will go to center back with Marcelo Weigandt entering. Miami were lucky to finish the half with 11 men so it makes sense that Mascherano will want to get Aviles out of the match.
Miami will likely make changes at the half since they have two players on yellow cards but Al Ahly will feel like they should be ahead at this stage. Outshooting Miami 6-2 in the first half, the Egyptian side has asked plenty of questions, but their finishing boots haven't been there.
Allende had a touch but it just stayed out as Inter Miami tries to get their momentum in this match. There may not be a goal yet, but it isn't from a lack of trying.
Trezeguet had a poor take and it was cleanly saved by Ustari who so far is the man of the match keeping Miami in this one.
Segovia brings down Zizo in the box, and Al Ahly will have a chance to score from the penalty spot before the half.
Aviles is already on a yellow card but his reckless challenge on Trezeguet won't see him sent off. Al Ahly will feel hard done even though they have a free kick in a dangerous area.
After a challenge, Messi took studs straight to his knee. It's a painful moment for the Argentine but one that he should be able to carry on from.
Al Ahly has the ball in the back of the net, but it's just offside. It's a warning sign for Inter Miami, who have been behind everything so far. Redondo has now received a yellow card of his own.
This is already going to change how Miami defends when the young defender has a penchant for getting red cards.If Miami doesn't tighten up soon, this will turn for the worst.
Emam Ashour will be withdrawn from the match and it could bring a formation shift with Zizo entering in the 14th minute. It's a debut for Zizo who joined from Zamalek.
Inter Miami needs to win the midfield battle if they'd like to win this match and so far they're not getting challenges off. Redondo is being overrun, and Trezeguet, not Messi, has been the most influential player on the pitch in the early going.
Their top scorer, Wessam Abou Ali has already tested Ustari in net and it isn't even seven minutes into the match. Tomas Aviles has gotten a talking to and the pressure is on Inter Miami's defense in the early going.
Al Ahly will start with the ball as Inter Miami will be asked to defend.
Hard Rock Stadium is ready to kick off this tournament.
Where there's Lionel Messi, there's a chance. Certainly Inter Miami shouldn't fear any of the other sides in Group A, it is even plausible that they top it. Equally, their start to the MLS season has been fairly unremarkable even as Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets rank near the top in terms of minutes played. Home advantage for two games might help, if only they could sell out Hard Rock Stadium.
The great power of CAF deserves to be taken very seriously indeed. The signing of Slovenian international Nejc Gradisar was an ambitious early season move by the most successful side in African club football, who promise to have further offensive weapons in the likes of Afsha and Tahr Mohamed. Dropped into a group without a legitimate super team, they have a chance of a run to the knockouts.
That might seem an exorbitant fee for a competition usually treated with indifference by European clubs, for whom the Champions League is the greatest prize. Indeed, a year ago then Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti was suggesting his club might reject the invitation to a tournament that he suggested would only be worth 20 million. He predicted others would also decline to take part.
What changed? Money, a lot of it. In what Infantino precisely termed "the biggest-ever prize money for a football tournament comprising a seven-match group stage and playoff format", the winners of the Club World Cup stand to earn up to $125 million for a month's work stateside. That is slightly greater than the estimated return for those clubs who reached the quarterfinals of this season's Champions League. In effect for a team such as Real Madrid, this is a chance to double their money for international games.
Nearly half of the $1 billion prize pot will be handed out based on sporting success with the finalists banking $30 million in merit payments for that game. It is $21 million for reaching the semifinals, $13.13 million for the quarterfinals. Even a point in the group stage would earn a team $1 million.
Trezeguet is set to make his debut for the squad after joining as a reinforcement for this tournament.
Al Ahly starters: Mohamed El Shenawi, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Achraf Dari, Ahmed Kouka, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Marwan Arria, Hamdi Fathi, Emam Ashour, Trezeguet, Wessam Abou Ali
The Herons will go into this with close to their top XI. More attention is being paid to defense without Jordi Alba, who has a hamstring injury, but with Messi, Miami can still attack with ease.
Inter Miami starters: Oscar Ustari, Noah Allen, Maximiliano Falcon, Tomas Aviles, Ian Fray, Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia, Lionel Messi, Tadeo Allende, Luis Suarez
Take a look at the predictions for the entire tournament, but Miami could kick things off with a victory out of the gate.
| GROUP A | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Porto | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
Palmeiras | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 |
Inter Miami | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
Al Ahly | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
Matchday 1
Al Ahly 1, Inter Miami 2
Palmeiras 0, Porto 2
Matchday 2
Palmeiras 2, Al Ahly 0
Inter Miami 1, Porto 2
Matchday 3
Inter Miami 1, Palmeiras 2
Porto 2, Al Ahly 0
Group A is a closely contested group. It's clear that Porto should be the team to win, and as long as they can defeat one of Inter Miami or Palmeiras, they will be on their way. What things come down to is Matchday 3, when Inter Miami face the Brazilian side. I tend to lean on Palmeiras' experience in competitions of this nature, while the Herons have struggled in knockout tournaments.
Lionel Messi will look to win the Club World Cup for the fourth time in his career but this will be his toughest challenge, leading Inter Miami to face the challenges ahead in this tournament. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain may be among the favorites to win the entire tournament but after a long season of soccer, anything could happen.
