By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 15, 2025 02:39 AM • 181 views
Miami, June 15 — The FIFA Club World Cup kicked off with an anti-climactic opening as hosts Inter Miami and Egyptian giants Al Ahly played out a goalless draw on Sunday night at the Hard Rock Stadium, leaving Group 'A' wide open after the first round of fixtures. Despite the electric atmosphere under the Florida lights, the match failed to ignite into the spectacle fans had hoped for. Both sides created moments of promise but lacked the clinical edge needed to break the deadlock.
Al Ahly came closest to altering the scoreboard just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Egyptian winger Mahmoud Hassan, better known as Trezeguet, stepped up to take a penalty after a clumsy foul inside the box. But the forward saw his effort expertly parried away by Inter Miami's Argentine shot-stopper Oscar Ustari, who dived to his right to deny the Egyptians a crucial lead.
Inter Miami, fielding a strong lineup that included a blend of domestic and international stars, pushed forward with urgency in the second half but was repeatedly stifled by a disciplined Al Ahly backline. The Egyptian champions, meanwhile, relied on quick transitions but couldn't find a final pass in the attacking third.
The result leaves both clubs with a solitary point apiece, with plenty to play for in the remaining group-stage fixtures. With only the top side in Group A guaranteed progression, the pressure will now mount heading into the next round of matches.
While the scoreline may suggest a drab affair, tactically, it was a chess match—cautious but calculated—with both managers likely satisfied with the clean sheet but wary of the missed chances that could haunt them later in the tournament.
