Al Ahly were left ruing missed opportunities following a disappointing draw with Inter Miami at the Club World Cup, a result that felt more like a loss than a point gained for the Egyptian giants.
Forward Wessam Abou Ali, who saw a goal ruled out for offside, summed up the frustration: “We could have scored three or four in the first half. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalize on our chances. Our fans were incredible, but it wasn’t enough.”
The Cairo-based club dominated large stretches of the opening half, pinning back their MLS opponents and creating numerous chances.
However, they failed to convert their early momentum into goals, a shortcoming that ultimately cost them the victory.
Head coach José Riveiro echoed Abou Ali’s sentiments, suggesting that his players lost their grip on the game after the break.
“We had control in the first half, but we relaxed a little after that. A few errors in the restart, a bit of nervousness… and above all, we lacked precision in the final move,” said the Spaniard, whose side have now drawn twice in their last three competitive matches.
Despite their attacking shortcomings, Al Ahly had their goalkeeper Mohammed El Shennawy to thank for keeping them in the contest during the closing stages.
The veteran shot-stopper made several key interventions to deny Inter Miami, whose counterattacks grew more threatening as the match wore on.
El Shennawy pointed to external conditions as a contributing factor in his side’s fading performance.
“Inter are a very good team,” he said. “We managed the first half well, but the heat and pressure took a bit of a toll on us after that. At least we didn’t lose.”
The result leaves Al Ahly in a precarious position in their group, with qualification still within reach but far from guaranteed.
The sense of what could have been lingers, especially given the early dominance they enjoyed and the vocal support from their fans in the stadium.
While the draw offers a sliver of consolation, the post-match mood among Al Ahly’s camp was one of disappointment, as they reflect on a night when control, effort, and energy fell short of delivering the desired result.
