Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez has praised Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy for his excellent performance in their opening game of the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup.
The Major League Soccer side were held to a goalless scoreline on Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium.
The veteran shot-stopper pulled off several key saves, including efforts from both Suarez and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, earning the admiration of the Uruguayan forward.
After the game, the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker Suarez singled out El Shenawy for his outstanding performance.
“Al Ahly’s goalkeeper made a lot of saves. He was the man of the match, along with Oscar Ustari, who shone in the first half,” Suarez said after the match, as quoted by Btolat.
“Mohamed El-Shenawy gave a fantastic performance and was a real obstacle for us.
“This tournament is a real test for us. Every opponent we face has their own experience and strength, but despite the challenges, we continue to strive to achieve our major goals as a team,” he added.
“We are putting pressure on ourselves because we want to show our capabilities in this tournament, and we will do everything we can to achieve victories and make our fans happy,” he added.
Al Ahly will hope to secure their first win of the ongoing tournament when they face Palmeiras on Thursday at the MetLife Stadium, with kick-off scheduled at 16:00 GMT.