Toney scores penalty to keep Al-Ahli level at 1-1 against Pyramids in first half Por Luís Henrique Costa
9 min de leitura
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Al-Ahli and Pyramids are locked in a balanced duel in the second phase of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, played at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The match, which kicked off at 2:00 PM Brasília time, stands at a 1-1 scoreline at 51 minutes in the first half, with the game still ongoing.
Ivan Toney, Al-Ahli’s English striker, leveled the score with a precise penalty kick at 44 minutes. Earlier, Fiston Mayele had put Pyramids ahead at 20 minutes with a well-placed shot from outside the box.
The clash pits the Asian Champions League winner against the African Champions League victor, determining the region’s representative for the final stages in December.
The Saudi crowd fills the stands, creating an intense atmosphere for the home side, who are pushing for qualification to face the winner of the Libertadores champion versus Cruz Azul matchup.
Starting lineups and early tactics
Al-Ahli lines up in a 4-3-3, prioritizing possession and wing play. Édouard Mendy guards the goal, backed by defenders Mohammed Abdulrahman, Ibañez, Merih Demiral, and Yasser Dams. In midfield, Franck Kessié, Jean-Victor Makengo, and Enzo Millot set the tempo, while Riyad Mahrez, Ivan Toney, and Galeno form the attacking trio.
- Mendy: Experienced French goalkeeper, making crucial saves early on.
- Ibañez: Brazilian center-back, recently signed, anchoring the backline.
- Millot: French midfielder, sparking the play that led to the penalty.
- Mahrez: Skillful Algerian, delivering precise set-pieces.
- Toney: Striker in the spotlight, constantly threatening in the box.
Pyramids opts for a 3-5-2, focusing on a compact defense and quick counterattacks. Mohamed El Shenawy tends goal, protected by a defensive trio of Ahmed Samy, Mohamed Galal, and Ahmed Chibi. The midfield features Mohamed Hamdi, Hamdy Lasheen, Ibrahim Touré, and Mohamed Atef, with Karim Hafez on the wing and forwards Fiston Mayele and Ramadan Zalaka up top.
Al-Ahli’s coach Matthias Jaissle banks on Mahrez’s pace to create openings, while Pyramids’ Krunoslav Jurcic instructs his side to exploit gaps in the opponent’s ball-playing defense. Both setups show balance, with Al-Ahli holding 58% possession in the opening minutes.
From the opening whistle, the game flows with quick passing exchanges but lacks clear chances until the 11th minute. Pyramids presses high, forcing errors in Al-Ahli’s defense, while the Saudis build play through the middle with Millot as the pivot.
Key moments up to 51 minutes
The first half progresses with growing intensity, marked by standout saves and clear opportunities. At 51 minutes, the score remains 1-1, but the pace suggests more action to come.
- At 3 minutes, Chibi crosses for Pyramids, but Hafez misses, and Mendy collects.
- At 5 minutes, Mahrez links with Abdulrahman in the box, who goes down asking for a penalty after Hafez’s touch; the referee waves play on.
- At 11 minutes, Mendy’s triple save: Zalaka shoots across, deflected by the defense; Atef’s strong rebound is parried; Mayele’s follow-up is stopped again.
- At 20 minutes, Mayele’s goal: receives at the edge of the box, sets himself, and curls a shot into the corner; VAR confirms after checking for a possible Toney foul.
- At 44 minutes, penalty for Al-Ahli: Millot is brought down by Galal in the box; Toney converts, sending El Shenawy the wrong way.
These moments highlight both teams’ attacking efficiency, with Pyramids capitalizing on individual errors and Al-Ahli gaining momentum after the 27-minute hydration break. At 41 minutes, Mayele misses a golden chance: Ibañez misjudges, leaving the striker free, but his shot lacks angle as Atef calls for the pass.
At 32 minutes, Millot nearly scores: Demiral plays forward, the ball deflects, and the Frenchman strikes hard; El Shenawy makes a vital save. At 50 minutes, Millot takes an accidental stud from Samy and stays down for nearly a minute, showing pain but returning as play resumes.
Six minutes of added time, signaled at 46 minutes, keep the tension high, with Al-Ahli pressing harder post-equalizer.
Goalkeepers’ performances and key defending
Édouard Mendy and Mohamed El Shenawy stand out as defensive pillars, preventing a higher scoreline with critical interventions. Mendy, a Champions League winner with Chelsea, delivers three miraculous saves in the first 20 minutes, thwarting a rapid-fire Pyramids attack.
El Shenawy, an Egyptian national team stalwart, holds firm, notably on Toney’s penalty, diving the wrong way but with no real chance to save. At 35 minutes, he comfortably catches Mayele’s backward header from Chibi’s cross.
- Mendy: Three consecutive saves at 11 minutes, stopping Zalaka, Atef, and Mayele.
- El Shenawy: Denies Millot’s powerful shot at 32 minutes after Demiral’s deflected pass.
- Al-Ahli defense: Ibañez and Demiral block crosses but falter in isolated moments.
- Pyramids defense: Samy heads wide while offside at 31 minutes; Galal briefly exits for bleeding at 40.
These efforts underscore both coaches’ tactical solidity, with Al-Ahli tightening marking after conceding and Pyramids maintaining compact lines. At 38 minutes, Mahrez’s corner is half-cleared, with Touré clearing the danger.
The defensive balance contrasts with the attacking output, with Al-Ahli registering 7 shots to Pyramids’ 5 so far, per partial match data.
Midfield standout performances
Enzo Millot emerges as Al-Ahli’s engine, with sharp vision and boldness culminating in the penalty won. The 24-year-old Frenchman distributes precise passes and recovers balls centrally, forcing Pyramids to retreat. At 42 minutes, his run into the box draws Galal’s foul.
Riyad Mahrez, with quick dribbles and dangerous set-pieces, creates key chances: at 18 minutes, a corner earned after Kessié’s advance; at 24 minutes, a cross forces another corner; at 25 minutes, a free-kick to Demiral, nullified for offside.
- Millot: Ball recoveries and potential assists, plus the penalty won.
- Mahrez: Three set-piece deliveries, generating corners and constant pressure.
- Kessié: Wins physical duels at 15 and 18 minutes, aiding transitions.
- For Pyramids: Touré and Atef control the midfield, with Lasheen launching counters.
Ibrahim Touré, Pyramids’ midfielder, balances with tight marking, clearing danger at 38 minutes. At 9 minutes, the game sees frequent possession changes without clear dominance, but Al-Ahli’s midfield gains ground after 30 minutes, with Abu Al-Shamat replacing Galeno at 30.
This central dynamic dictates the flow, with Al-Ahli exploiting depth and Pyramids banking on quick transitions via Hafez.
Tense moments and early substitutions
The match builds tension with isolated incidents that shift momentum. At 12 minutes, Zalaka earns a yellow for a hard challenge on Mendy after a deflected shot. At 15 minutes, Kessié falls heavily after Mayele’s touch but escapes injury.
At 40 minutes, Pyramids’ Galal briefly leaves for bleeding but returns swiftly. At 50 minutes, Millot limps after Samy’s accidental stud, halting play for nearly a minute; the Frenchman returns, determined but hobbling.
- Yellow for Zalaka at 12 minutes: Harsh foul on goalkeeper Mendy.
- Substitution at 30 minutes: Abu Al-Shamat replaces Galeno for Al-Ahli.
- Millot’s stud incident at 50 minutes: Accidental but causes concern on the bench.
These episodes, plus the hydration break at 27 minutes, disrupt the early pace but reignite intensity in added time. At 37 minutes, Mahrez’s free-kick is cleared by Mayele for a corner, sustaining pressure.
Referee István Kovács, from Romania, manages the game well, with VAR intervening only on Mayele’s goal at 20 minutes, confirming its validity after a quick check.
Offensive pressure and missed chances
Al-Ahli’s attack gains traction post-equalizer, with Toney moving well in the box and Galeno creating from the wings before his exit. At 38 minutes, Ibañez crosses firmly, but Mahrez can’t connect. Mayele, for Pyramids, squanders a chance at 41 minutes: free after Ibañez’s error, he shoots off-target, ignoring Atef’s call in the box.
At 36 minutes, Atangana’s long ball finds Galal, who shields against Abdulrahman, thwarting a counter. At 31 minutes, Samy heads wide alone but is flagged offside.
- Mayele’s chance at 35 minutes: Backward header saved by Mendy.
- Ibañez’s error at 41 minutes: Misjudged clearance gifts Mayele a shot.
- Chibi’s cross at 3 minutes: Hafez fails to connect, ball goes to Mendy.
With play ongoing past 51 minutes, Al-Ahli pushes for a second goal, while Pyramids resists with lethal counters. The hydration break at 30 minutes allows tactical tweaks, with Jaissle demanding more from his fullbacks.
Toney, beyond his goal, stays active: at 18 minutes, an attacking foul nullifies Mahrez’s corner. At 20 minutes, a potential foul by him is reviewed by VAR on Pyramids’ goal but dismissed.
Timeline of key events
The first-half timeline reveals a match of ebbs and flows, with goals and saves shaping the current stalemate.
- 0′: Kickoff at King Abdullah; Al-Ahli presses early with Mahrez on the right.
- 11′: Mendy’s defensive sequence stops Pyramids’ three consecutive shots.
- 20′: Mayele’s goal puts Pyramids ahead; VAR validates after 30-second review.
- 30′: Hydration break and substitution: Abu Al-Shamat bolsters Al-Ahli’s attack.
- 44′: Penalty won by Millot and converted by Toney ties the game at 1-1.
These moments mark tactical shifts, with Pyramids dominating until the 20th minute and Al-Ahli responding in added time. At 46 minutes, six minutes of stoppage time are signaled, extending the battle.
The match remains open, with both teams adjusting for the remaining first-half minutes.
