BEVERLY HILLS, February 11, (THEWILL) – It was not the prize they were gunning for and it was not the most convincing of victories but Africa’s representation in the Qatar-hosted FIFA Club World Cup can take some pride back home in the admirable way they prosecuted their campaign at the competition all the way to a noble end in the third place decider today.
They have their inspiring goalkeeper to thank for his heroics in between the sticks. The ever-dependable safe hands, Mohamed El Shenaway, saved two penalties in the deciding penalty shootout to help Al Ahly scale past SE Palmeiras in a 3-2 finish and emerge third at the FIFA event that ended in a goalless stalemate after regulation time.
Of the two sides, it was the Egyptians that were the brighter team, showing greater intensity and desire from the start. Yet, they threw away a great opportunity midway through the first half. A mistake by Palmeiras captain Felipe Melo enabled Egyptian midfielder Amro Elsoulia to go through on goal, but he pulled his shot wide and the chance was lost.
Again, Al Ahly had a chance to break the deadlock when Mohamed Afsha Morsy, their attacking midfielder, opened up another good chance for the Egyptians, only to fluff the opportunity to bury it in the net. The South Americans were not without chances of their own either. Striker Rony Barbosa twice threatened for Palmeiras, but the opening 45 minutes finished without an opener.
In a switch from the kickoff in the first half, from the whistle to resume in the second half, the Brazilians came out with a renewed determination to get a breakthrough, but Rony, again, and 21-year-old Palmeiras midfielder Patrick de Paula missed their attempts on goal in quick succession.
Elsoulia was on song again in the 66th minute, forcing Brazilian goalie Weverton Pereira da Silva into a smart save from a hard volley. The rebound fell kindly for Nigerian striker Junior Ajayi, who wasted no time burying the rebound nicely in the net. Al Ahly were beginning to jubilate when Ajayi was determined to have scored from an offside position and the goal was struck out.
Once more, de Paula forced himself into space, and holding off his marker, he powered into the Ahly danger area before letting fly. But he pulled his fierce, low drive wide off the post in the 80th minute and there was not much to separate both sides after that until full time.
It appeared exhaustion had set in by the time the deciding penalty kicks were due to be taken because both sets of players failed to score with Palmeiras only able to convert two and Al Ahly scoring three including one by the Nigerian striker Ajayi, who right-footed his shot to the top right corner.
Ahly keeper’s denying Rony and captain Melo were the highlights of the penalty kicks and ultimately cost the South Americans a chance to be third. It was Ahly that were celebrating in the end and it was deserving for a team that has once again backed their reputation and pedigree as one of the best to come from Africa, on the continent and around the globe.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
