Egyptian giants Al Ahly struggled to break down Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders in Saturday’s second quarterfinal at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup but a late shot from Mohamed Magdy “Afsha” took a dramatic deflection into the goal to give Ahly a 1-0 victory in Tangier, Morocco. Afsha’s striker advances Ahly to the semifinals for a dream matchup where they will face European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday in Rabat.
It was always going to be difficult for American side Seattle who had not played a competitive match in four months but the MLS club kept the Ahly attack at bay for large stretches. The first half lacked fluid play from both teams and the closest either team came to breaking the 0-0 deadlock was a shot from distance by Seattle’s Nicolás Lodeiro that hardly threatened Mohamed El Shenawy in the Ahly goal.
The lack of match fitness started to catch up to Seattle in the second half with Ahly controlling possession and spending extended periods of time in the attacking half after El Shenawy handled the first shot on target from either side in the 51st minute. Ahly substitute Ahmed Abdelkader cut inside from the left wing in the 69th minute and set up fellow substitute Afsha for a shot that rolled just wide.
Late on it appeared the match was destined for extra time but Ahly’s moment of fortune arrived in the 88th minute. Percy Tau drove towards the Seattle penalty area and laid a pass off for Afsha whose lofted shot came back off the crossbar. However the ball came back for Afsha to hit a hopeful volley and his shot took a wild deflection before going beyond Seattle keeper Stefan Frei who could only helplessly watch the ball bounce into the goal.
Click the link below for highlights of the match from FIFA TV.
