Palmeiras Clinches Victory Over Al Ahly After Weather Delay

EAST RUTHERFORD: Palmeiras, representing Brazil, defeated Al Ahly of Egypt with a score of 2-0 in their FIFA Club World Cup Group A match held at MetLife Stadium on Thursday. The game faced a temporary suspension lasting almost an hour due to severe weather conditions.

The first goal occurred early in the second half when Wessam Abou Ali, an international player from Palestine, scored an own goal in the 49th minute. He inadvertently headed Aníbal Moreno’s free kick into his own net while attempting to clear it.

Building on their lead, Palmeiras extended their advantage ten minutes later with a quick counter-attack, culminating in José Manuel’s precise shot past the goalkeeper.

Shortly after Palmeiras’ second goal, the referee paused the match due to a severe weather alert, leading to the evacuation of both teams from the field. Spectators were also instructed to leave their seats and seek shelter beneath the stadium’s concourse.

Following a roughly 30-minute period without further weather concerns, supporters were permitted to re-enter the stadium, and play continued after a 50-minute interruption.

The remaining portion of the match saw limited significant action, with Palmeiras maintaining control and restricting Al Ahly’s opportunities to create a comeback. This victory marked Palmeiras’ initial win in Group A, improving their prospects for advancement in the competition.

Palmeiras’ head coach, Abel Ferreira, commented that the unexpected break in play benefited his team.

Coach Comments
  • Ferreira: “It favours the team that is leading when you have a break like that.”
  • He added: “They were a difficult opponent but we kept our focus.”

Al Ahly’s coach, José Riveiro, reflected on his team’s performance and observed a noticeable difference between their first and second-half performances.

Coach Comments
  • Riveiro: “It was an equal first half and we felt a goal could come for us at any time and that we had the game under control.”
  • He noted: “But in the second half we didn’t have that good a half.”