Eight goals, a hat-trick, and double elimination in a FIFA Club World Cup 2025 thriller
On the third and final matchday of Group A at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, FC Porto and Al Ahly delivered one of the tournament’s most electrifying encounters, ending in a dramatic 4-4 draw on Monday night (June 23) at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, USA. Despite the spectacle, the result marked the end of the road for both teams, as Palmeiras and Inter Miami secured qualification to the Round of 16 after drawing 2-2 in the group’s other decisive match.
The game started at high tempo and quickly delivered action. In the 15th minute, Wessam Abou Ali opened the scoring for Al Ahly with a precise low shot into the right corner. Porto responded in the 23rd minute through Rodrigo Mora, who skillfully bypassed the defense and finished with class. Right before halftime, in the 45’+2 minute, Abou Ali scored again this time from the penalty spot after Zizo was fouled in the box, giving the Egyptian champions a 2-1 lead at the break.
The second half began with a flurry of goals. In the 50th minute, William Gomes leveled for FC Porto with a stunning strike into the top corner. Just one minute later, Abou Ali completed his hat-trick with a powerful header from a Mohamed Hany cross. Porto equalized once more in the 53rd minute when Samu Aghehowa rose highest to nod in a corner delivered by Fábio Vieira. In the 64th minute, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane struck from the edge of the box to give Al Ahly a 4-3 lead. But as the match approached its final moments, Pepê salvaged the draw for Porto in the 89th minute with a precise right-footed curler from the edge of the area after receiving a pass from Gabri Veiga.
Throughout the game, both goalkeepers played key roles: Cláudio Ramos made six crucial saves for Porto, while Mohamed El Shenawy denied multiple dangerous attempts to preserve Al Ahly’s hopes. The referee issued several yellow cards in a tense and fiercely contested second half, where both teams desperately chased qualification.
Man of the Match: Wessam Abou Ali (Al Ahly)
According to FIFA.com, Wessam Abou Ali was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance, scoring three vital goals and leading Al Ahly’s attack with physical presence, smart positioning, and clinical finishing. His hat-trick kept the Egyptian side competitive deep into the final stages and showcased his composure under pressure on the world stage.
Despite the captivating encounter, FC Porto and Al Ahly were both eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 without a win. Each side ended the group stage with two points, but Al Ahly finished bottom of Group A due to an inferior goal difference.
This exhilarating 4-4 draw will be remembered as one of the most thrilling matches of the group phase, full of twists, intensity, and individual brilliance, serving as a lasting highlight of this year’s tournament.
Comeback Falls Just Short but Sends Brazilians Through as Group A Winners and Americans into Club World Cup 2025 Last 16
In the third and decisive matchday of Group A at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Palmeiras and Inter Miami played out a thrilling 2-2 draw on Monday night (June 23), at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (USA). The result secured both teams a place in the Round of 16, with Palmeiras finishing first in the group due to superior goal difference. The match was marked by a brilliant performance from Luis Suárez, who scored a spectacular goal and provided an assist, and a heroic comeback from the Brazilian side, who fought back from a 2-0 deficit to equalize with goals from Paulinho and Maurício in the final stretch.
Inter Miami opened the scoring early, in the 16th minute, with Tadeo Allende finding the net after receiving a genius chest pass from Luis Suárez during a fast break that started from a Palmeiras corner. The 38-year-old Uruguayan displayed his vision and experience with a perfectly timed assist. Allende then coolly slotted the ball into the corner after a solo run. Suárez continued to shine and in the 65th minute, he dribbled past two defenders and struck a left-footed rocket into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Weverton with no chance and putting Inter Miami 2-0 up.
Despite the deficit, Palmeiras did not give up. Manager Abel Ferreira made key attacking substitutions, which paid off. In the 80th minute, Paulinho received a through ball from Allan and finished low into the corner to pull one back. Just seven minutes later, at the 87th minute, Maurício capitalized on a loose ball after a corner and fired into the net to level the score at 2-2. In stoppage time, Palmeiras nearly found a winner with chances from Vitor Roque and Paulinho, but Óscar Ustari kept Inter Miami alive with two crucial saves. While the draw didn’t crown a winner, celebrations broke out on both sides, as the 4-4 draw between Porto and Al Ahly meant both direct rivals were eliminated, securing qualification for Palmeiras and Inter Miami.
Man of the Match: Luis Suárez (Inter Miami)
According to FIFA.com, the Player of the Match was Luis Suárez, who delivered a standout performance with a goal and an assist that brought Inter Miami to the brink of victory and secured their spot in the knockout phase. The veteran striker showed why he remains one of the most intelligent and lethal forwards in world football. His movements off the ball, technical touches, and that masterful assist to Allende demonstrated his enduring class. Even though Palmeiras equalized, Suárez’s impact was decisive in placing the MLS side in the Round of 16.
Group A Final Standings and Next Matches
With this result, Palmeiras finished Group A as leaders with five points, ahead of Inter Miami, also on five points but with an inferior goal difference. Both sides now move on to the Round of 16 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025:
- Palmeiras will face Botafogo in a high-stakes all-Brazilian clash in Philadelphia, reigniting a heated domestic rivalry.
- Inter Miami will challenge Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta, a match highlighted by Lionel Messi facing his former club from Paris.
Main Sources used to write this article
- espn.com (FC Porto vs Al Ahly)
- reuters.com (FC Porto vs Al Ahly)
- fifa.com (FC Porto vs Al Ahly)
- espn.com (Palmeiras vs Inter Miami)
- fifa.com (Palmeiras vs Inter Miami)
