#1 Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly: MLS Club Falls in Heartbreaking Club World Cup Battle
Brief overview of Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly match
Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly: The Seattle Sounders FC’s journey at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup came to a heartbreaking end when they lost 1-0 to the Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly in the tournament’s Second Round. The match took place at Tangier’s Ibn Batouta Stadium and was scoreless until the 88th minute, when Al Ahly midfielder Mohamed Afsha found the decisive breakthrough with a deflected finish after his initial shot rang the crossbar.
Seattle Sounders’ Performance
The result eliminated Seattle from the tournament after just one match, which they were competing in through a historic 2022 Concacaf Champions League title – Major League Soccer’s first-ever team to reach this global stage. Meanwhile, Al Ahly advanced to the Feb. 8th semifinals against Spain’s Real Madrid.
Al Ahly’s Performance
Despite being in the preseason stage, Seattle dominated possession for long stretches of the match, but failed to produce a moment of quality in front of the net. Al Ahly, who were poor in the first half, began to build themselves into the match in the second half, and they found their key moment with just two minutes left in regulation. Mohamed Magdy struck the bar with a sparkling strike, and the rebound found its way back to his feet. He poked his second effort on goal, and a massive deflection off Alex Roldan took the ball past Stefan Frei to break the Sounders’ hearts.
Advancement to Semifinal
The quarterfinal match had a large prize, as Al Ahly now advance to a semifinal date with European giants Real Madrid, who are the defending Champions League winners.
Historical Milestone for Seattle Sounders
The Seattle Sounders made history as the first Major League Soccer club to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup, but that is all they will be able to take home from Morocco as they were beaten by Al Ahly. It was a milestone moment for the club and the league, but given the competitive nature of the match, it still felt like a missed opportunity for Brian Schmetzer’s group.
Confirmed lineups for Seattle Sounders and Al Ahly
Confirmed lineups for the match were Seattle Sounders (4-2-3-1 formation) with Stefan Frei as the goalkeeper and Al Ahly (4-5-1 formation) with Mohamed El Shenawy as the goalkeeper.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Seattle Sounders’ journey at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup was a historic moment for the club and the league, but the heartbreaking loss to Al Ahly was a missed opportunity for Brian Schmetzer’s group. Al Ahly will now face European giants Real Madrid in the semifinals of the tournament.
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