Al-Ahli (Jeddah) eliminated by Mamelodi Sundowns in the FIFA Club World Cup

Pretoria – AFP – Al-Ahli Saudi FC’s campaign in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup came to an end on Saturday after a 1-2 defeat to South African hosts Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

Al-Ahli, the Asian champions, had aimed to win the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup and advance to the semi-finals, but the African champions ended their run thanks to goals from Portugal’s Nuno Santos (17, 80), while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams scored an own goal (19).

This marks Al-Ahli’s second consecutive appearance in the tournament. In the previous edition, they were eliminated by Egypt’s Pyramids FC before securing their first win of the year against New Zealand’s Auckland City.

Mamelodi Sundowns have advanced to face Mexico’s Toluca, the Copa Libertadores champions. The winner of that match will meet France’s Paris Saint-Germain, the UEFA Champions League holders, in the final.

Al-Ahli came close to opening the scoring early in the match, but Ziyad Al-Juhani’s shot struck the post and went out of play (11).

Sundowns took the lead from a cross when Santos rose to meet Tihoko Mokoena’s delivery and headed it past Senegal’s Edouard Mendy, who parried it into his own net (17).

Al-Ahli responded quickly when Firas Al-Buraikan’s shot was mishandled by Williams, who deflected it into his own goal (19).

Al-Ahli missed a chance to take the lead when Portugal’s Francisco Trincao fired a powerful shot that narrowly missed the post (25), followed by a strong effort from France’s Valentin Atangana that Williams saved and cleared for a corner (27).

In stoppage time of the first half, Al-Ahli squandered a clear opportunity when Trincao followed up a cross but placed the ball into the goalkeeper’s hands.

In the second half, Al-Juhani fired a powerful shot that Williams saved (51). Sundowns nearly added a second goal, but Khulumani Ndumani’s shot went over the bar (65), before Mendy made a crucial save from a dangerous chance (77).