A battered and bruised Real Madrid side in a poor run of form eked out a late 4-1 victory vs. Al Ahly in the Club World Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
The scoreline doesn’t reflect how close the game was as Madrid’s final two goals came in stoppage time.
Major League Soccer fans wished it were the Seattle Sounders playing Real Madrid instead of Al Ahly. The MLS side fell 1-0 to the Egyptian club on Saturday.
Al Ahly, who didn’t look amazing against a preseason Sounders team, pushed Real Madrid for 90 minutes.
Los Blancos have hardly looked themselves in the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. On Sunday Real Madrid lost 1-0 in shocking fashion to LaLiga underdogs Mallorca.
Real Madrid vs. Al Ahly Highlights
Madrid entered the semifinal with Benzema, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy all unavailable due to injury.
Al Ahly put the pressure on early with several chances to make the Real Madrid faithful nervous. European teams at the Club World Cup have only failed to make the final once which was back in 2000.
@AlAhlyEnglish finds a gap in Madrid's back line and Mohamed Sherif from a difficult angle nearly puts his side in front! pic.twitter.com/Lzw3liDCuK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
Abdelmonem has a chance from the center of the box!@AlAhlyEnglish continue to apply the pressure early on pic.twitter.com/6qLw0ZxHP3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
WHAT A SAVE FROM LUNIN pic.twitter.com/rpxILi6W3b
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
Vinícius Jr. would capitalize on a horrendous Al Ahly error at the back shortly before halftime to give Madrid the lead.
THE BRILLIANT BRAZILIAN
Vinícius Júnior fires @realmadriden in front 1-0! pic.twitter.com/phaDSxa63F— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
Madrid would strike again less than a minute into the second half with Federico Valverde getting to a rebound first.
“This is for J-Mo and my beloved Sounders,” Valverde must’ve thought to himself as he scored.
Well that didn't take too long!
Federico Valverde makes it two for @realmadriden pic.twitter.com/MTZJ2fqueB— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
Al Ahly would get back into the game after a slapdash challenge from Eduardo Camavinga gave the Egyptian side a penalty kick. Ali Maaloul would stroke in the spot kick in the 65th minute to set up an exciting final 30 minutes.
AS COOL AS YOU LIKE
And just like that @AlAhlyEnglish is back in this match! pic.twitter.com/97TDJBxEwp— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin filled in for Courtois and provided several fantastic saves to keep the underdogs out. Lunin had an important save during an Al Ahly corner kick in the second half.
Wednesday’s game was Al Ahly’s third of the Club World Cup after defeating Auckland City in the opener and Seattle in the second round. Fatigue set in for the team and Real Madrid took over in the final minutes.
Luka Modric saw his penalty kick saved in the 87th minute, but Madrid would tack on two more goals in stoppage time.
IT'S SAVED
Mohamed El-Shenawy keeps Modrić's shot out of the back of the net! pic.twitter.com/uhwEcWSnj2— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
That backheel pass and that finish by Rodrygo @realmadriden is now running away with this game! pic.twitter.com/WrY1tB4CR8
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Sergio Arribas slots it home with a left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner! pic.twitter.com/gnYtnZcUTU— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
Real Madrid will face Al Hilal in the Club World Cup final on Saturday. A win for Madrid would be the club’s fifth Club World Cup title. If Al Hilal win then it would be the first time a club not from Europe or South America wins the tournament.
