Al Ahly - Al Ittihad: summary, score, goals, highlights, Club World Cup 2023
Al Ahly - Al Ittihad: as it happened
A compelling Club World Cup quarter-final clash in Jeddah saw Egyptian giants Al Ahly stake a place in the semi-final after a solid display against home side and Saudi champions Al Ittihad.
Things could have been so much different for the home side had Karim Benzema converted his penalty kick after a VAR intervention on the stroke of halt time.
The opening goal of the contest did come from the spot after VAR had earlier intervened and awarded the side from Cairo a penalty which Maaloul despatched confidently.
Two goals in the space of two minutes ended the contest for the Jeddah Tigers as Shahat and then Ashour extended the lead for the side in red.
Al Ittihad threw everything at the game but lacked the guile and resource to break down a well drilled Al Ahly side and despite a straight red card for Ahly sub Modeste, a late Benzema consolation merely papered over the cracks as the African champions progress to set up an intriguing semifinal against Copa Libertadores winner Fluminense.
The whistle sounds and Al Ahly advance to meet Fluminense on Monday.
The curtain comes down for Al Ittihad in their CWC journey.
Just one minute left in Jeddah.
Al Ittihad pressing looking for another.
Benzema finds a late consolidation for Al Ittihad.
Predatory strike from the former Real Madrid striker.
Too little, too late for the Jeddah side.
We're in added time but that red means that Modeste will play no role in the CWC semi-final against Flu.
Al Ahly's Modeste gets a red for use of the elbow.
What a blow for the man who has only been on the pitch for 3-4 minutes.
Jota has looked bright since coming on. Remember the Portuguese player is not registered to play in the domestic Saudi league !
Tau leaves the action with Modeste his replacement in the final switch for Al Ahly.
Tau is free but lofts the ball over the bar.
The flag was up so it would not have counted for the South African.
Change for Al Ahly
Koka limps off Dieng set to enter the action.
A dejected looking Marcelo Gallardo looks on from the touchline.
Not the dream start for the Argentine with his new club.
Kante tries to skip past a wall of red shirts but the French player eventually steers the ball wide.
Many local fans have had enough with swathes of empty seats showing up now at the stadium.
Less than ten minutes remain in Jeddah.
Al Alhy almost bag a fourth after great work from Tau as the eventual shot is well saved from Ittihad keeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf
Fluminense vs Al Ahly will also be a fascinating clash.
The Egyptian side have been really impressive today in every department.
That semifinal game will be played next Monday back here at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium
Final fifteen minutes of the tie.
Is there a way back for the Jeddah Tigers?
Dangerous free for the Saudi side with Jota over the ball.
What can the former Celtic man do?
The sub sees his delivery cleared by the side in red.
Triple switch for Ahly
Kahraba, ElShahat and Ashour all exit the game
Taher, Fouad and Elsoulia all on
Benzema goes close but volleys the ball just inches over.
Best chance for Al Ittihad since hitting the post.
Al Ahly just 20 minutes away from a place in the 2023 CWC where they will play Fluminense ... assuming Al Ittihad fail to deliver a big response and find at least three goals.
It's been an admirable performance from the Egyptian side who have managed the game to perfection.
Double switch for Al Ittihad
Jota and Allah both enter the fray
Romarinho and Coronado both making way
Kahraba carded as he scythes into Romarinho.
Fabinho carded as he checks a Ahly player in free flow.
Al Ittihad fans already make for the exit, as they feel their side have come to the end of the line in the 2023 CWC.
Just over 20 minutes remaining in Jeddah and what have Al Ittihad got in the locker.
Surely the Tigers need to find the target in the next five-ten minutes to offer a glimmer of hope.
Ittihad on the ropes and need to dig deep.
The Cairo based side are surely now destined for a place in the semifinals.
El Shahat carded for his exuberant celebration.
What a strike from Hussein El Shahat as the Al Ahly man curls the ball into the corner with a sweet strike.
Al Ittihad with all the initiative now.
Al Ittihad go close as Mohamed El Shenawy tips the goal bound ball onto the post and Al Ahly escape.
The Saudi side laying siege now to the Al Ahly goal with the Cairo side now soaking up pressure.
Al Ittihad pressing as Al Ahly sit deep and look to strike on the counter.
A little too soon for this policy?
The noise levels have picked up again after the half time break.
Al Ahly strike as Ashour drives from outside the box but the effort is wayward.
Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti off
Madallah Al-Olayan his replacement
Al Ittihad sub
Al-Shanqeeti getting bandaged but it looks unlikely that the defender can carry on.
That looks like a hamstring tear for Al Ittihad defender Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti. The defender needs treatment but it does not look good.
Al Ahly start the second half.
A draw at the end of the 90 minutes would see an additional 30 minutes played and should things still be level after 120 minutes of action, then the tie would be decided on spot kicks.
Bamasould replaces Zakaria Hawsawi for Al Ittihad at the break.
Freed from Desire and Seven Nation Army... the most played tracks at global football tournaments these days ... discuss...
A look at the half time stats as the players get read to return to the pitch.
The whistle sounds and the Egyptian giants lead at the break.
The Cairo side took advantage of their VAR awarded penalty kick as Maaloul made no mistake from the spot.
Al Ittihad too had their VAR awarded penalty but to the frustration of the bulk of the local fans, the veteran striker had his kick saved by Al Ahly stopper Mohamed El Shenawy.
A big 45 minutes of Club World Cup action coming up...
Ittihad still pressing as the clock ticks down.
A compelling first 45 minutes and as things stand it's Al Ahly from Cairo who will face Fluminense next Monday at this very same venue.
Al Ahly still ahead of the additional five minutes of added time.
More drama here right on the cusp of half time as the Al Ahly keeper guesses correctly and denies Benzema.
Karim Benzema to take .... the Al Ittihad No. 9 has his effort saved by Mohamed El Shenawy
The man from Venezuela speaking frantically to the VAR booth.
Way, way less clear cut than the first penalty but the ref points to the spot and Ittihad fans celebrate.
VAR are checking a possible spot kick for a handball by an Al Ahly man in the prelude to that move.
The referee is consulting the monitor and we generally know what that means....
Hany fouls and Coronado to take this dangerous free for Al Ittihad.
11 red jerseys in the box.
Better delivery from the Brazilian but well handled by the Egyptian side.
Al Ahly break and Ittihad are forced to desperatley clear.
Benzema with a decent chance but the French striker hits the ball straight at the Alhy keeper.
Decent chance not taken by Al Ittihad.
Almost 40 minutes gone and the intensity levels show no sign of dropping.
A much better game than the Urawa-Leon clash played earlier.
Ahly's Ashour carded for a foul on Coronado.
First card of the night.
Al Ahly seem to have more of an incisive edge when it comes to opening the Al Ittihad backline with the Saudi side's play all that too predictable.
N´Golo Kante looks like the creative source for Al Ittihad tonight.
We've seen little of Karim Benzema so far this evening with the French striker struggling to get involved in the action.
The former Real Madrid forward not as mobile as he once was ....
The Percy Tay vs Omar Hawsawi battle on the Ahly right flank is fascinating ... the Al Ittihad man having the better so far in the match.
Apart from the obvious advantage of the 1-0 scoreline, Al Ahly are shading things in terms of possession and look the brighter side.
Free for the Saudi side.
Kadesh to take.... Romarinho heads and the ball drifts high and over the bar.
So, how will Gallardo's men bounce back as the Al Ahly fans are in raptures with a brief lull in the yellow end as they come to terms with the adverse scoreline.
Al Ahly silences the crowd in Jeddah
The Egyptian side take the lead at the King Abdullah Sports City
So, a big chance for the Cairo based side to take the lead.
Maaloul to take... he scored against Real Madrid and in Rabat and does so again....
Al Ahly take the lead.
After a VAR check, the Venezuelan referee offers a spot kick for Al Ahly.
It does appear that Kadesh did handle the ball.
A big, big call from Kharaba for a spot kick as he feels that a Ittihad defender handled. Kadesh the possible guilty party.
VAR being checked.
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino is at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium tonight as he was at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City for the earlier game.
Al Ittihad shading things in terms of possession as we pass the quarter of an hour mark.
Tau looks bright tonight but wants everything on his left foot.
Decent chance for Hany but well stopped by Al Maiouf in the Ittihad goal.
Al Ahly are ahead 9-2 vs Ittihad when it comes to appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup.
It's been a decent start to the game with the match being played with a high tempo and plenty of intensity.
Two chances for Al Ittihad as the ball falls to Romarinho and his close range effort is well blocked by Mohamed El Shenawy and the rebound is struck over the bar from distance.
Danger for Al Ahly as the Saudi side showing just how dangerous they can be
Sublime defending from Zakaria Hawsawi as he times his tackle on Tau to perfection as the South African looked to streak free for Al Ahly.
Now it's the turn of the red clas Al Ahly fans to generate some sustained noise and it's the Cairo giants who are enjoying the better of the opening exchanges.
Great effort from Al Ahly as the ball falls to Hussein El Shahat who sees his half volley deflected away by man in yellow and black.
Marcel Koller, the new Al Ahly coach (appointed in September 2022) looks on as his side start to claim a foothold in the action.
Both sides enjoying spells of sustained possession as the teams ease their way into the action.
Good ball aimed for Benzema but the French striker struggles to control and Al Ahly mount a counter.
Al Ahly fans light flares and smoke wafts across the pitch at the King Abdullah Sports City as new Ittihad coach Gallardo looks on with intent.
Al Ittihad start the game....
The countdown to kick-off is on after the pre-game protocol pix and pennant exchange.
The home fans are really fired up and in confident mood...
Curva Gold, the World is Yellow claims the massive Al Ittihad tifo.
Great response from the fans as the teams line up....
A riot of colour, predominantly yellow and black...
An electric atmosphere in Jeddah.
A massive Ittihad tifo is unfurled with the message: The World is Yellow from the Ittihad supporters.
This is a really intriguing clash... the champions of Africa and highly decorated Al Ahly against current SPL champions and local side Al Ittihad.
A packed house awaits at the King Abdullah Sports City with a sea of yellow behind one goal and a significant amount of travelling Al Ahly fans with a mass of red behind the other goal.
Ahly in iconic red
The Cairo giants (who have won the domestic league 43 times) are in their traditional red jerseys, white shorts for the Club World Cup clash.
Al Ittihad making it to the final is not out of the question. The Jeddah giants have made significant reinforcements and could easily surprise Fluminense should they overcome Al Ahly tonight.
Al Ahly-Al Ittihad: match official
Jesús Valenzuela has been selected by FIFA to oversee tonight's clash in Jeddah.
The 40-year-old who hails from Venezuela was named CONMEBOL's best referee for 2021.
Al Ittihad XI
Gallardo names his Al Ittihad XI and plenty of big names start the game with Benzema, Kante, Coronado and Romarinho all starting for Al Numoor.
Urawa march on
In today's earlier game, Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds beat Liga MX side Club Leon with a 1-0 scoreline.
The J-League outfit now face Manchester City in the semi-final with the winners of tonight's clash set to face Brazilian giants and Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense.
Previous CWC meeting
Both sides came face to face back at the 2005 Club World Cup with the Jeddah based side recording a slender 1-0 win.
Al Ahly-Al Ittihad: global start times
Wondering what time the game starts where you are in the world?
Al Ittihad have got you covered with this global kick-off guide.
Al Ahly XI named
Marcel Koller has named his side to face Al Ittihad as the Cairo based giants open their account at the 2023 Club World Cup,
A fascinating encounter awaits between the Egyptian and Saudi heavyweights.
Percy Tau is the danger man for Ahly.
Al Ittihad dressing room is ready
The Jeddah giants will be in their classic black and yellow kit and supported by 95% of the fans preset at the 62,000 capacity King Abdullah Sports City.
Al Ittihad: recent results
December, 2023: Al-Ittihad 3-0 Auckland City
December, 2023: Damac 3-1 Al-Ittihad
December, 2023: Al-Ittihad 2-1 Sepahan
November, 2023: Al-Ittihad 4-2 Al-Khaleej
November, 2023: AGMK 1-2 Al-Ittihad
Al-Ahly: recent results
December, 2023: Ah-Ahly 0-0 CR Belouizdad
December, 2023: Young Africans 1-1 Al-Ahly
November, 2023: Al-Ahly 0-0 Smouha
November, 2023: Al-Ahly 3-0 Medeama
November, 2023: El Gouna 1-1 Al-Ahly
The 'Club of the Century' as Egyptian giants Al Ahly are known will be looking to improve on their 2006, 2010 and 2021 showing when they finished third at the tournament.
Tonight's opposition are full of top class international names (Benzema, Kante, Fabinho, Jota) and had little trouble in sweeping Auckland FC aside in the first round.
Kick-off time
The game between Al-Ahly - Al-Ittihad will start at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT.
Hello and a warm welcome to our Club World Cup coverage as we focus on today's second game as Al Ahly face local outfit Al Ittihad.
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is the setting for tonight's action.