Welcome to the most chaotic matchday of the Club World Cup so far, where goals flew in, thunderclouds rolled over, and fans had to literally run for cover.
Palmeiras Beat Al Ahly 2-0
Brazilian giants Palmeiras pulled off a 2-0 win over Egypt’s Al Ahly in Group A, thanks to a blitz of two goals in ten second-half minutes and then some weather drama straight out of a disaster movie.
Own Goal Mayhem & A Clinical Counter
Things kicked off (or unraveled) in the 49th minute when Wessam Abou Ali, yes, Al Ahly’s striker who accidentally headed the ball into his own net while trying to defend a free kick whipped in by Aníbal Moreno. A classic case of miscommunication with his defenders, and Palmeiras were gifted the opener.
Just ten minutes later, it was Palmeiras on the break again. A lightning-quick counter-attack ended with Jose Manuel López, who had only just come on at halftime, finishing it off with ease to make it 2-0.
Then the Real Lightning Hit
Just moments after the second goal, English referee Anthony Taylor made the unexpected call to stop the match. The reason? A “severe weather threat” over the MetLife Stadium. Fans were told to get out of their seats and find shelter under the concourse. Total delay? A whopping 48 minutes.
But once play resumed at 2:15 p.m. EDT, Palmeiras didn’t miss a beat. They held onto their 2-0 lead and walked away with a massive win, one that takes them to four points in Group A after their earlier 0-0 draw with Porto.
Al Ahly Under Pressure Now
For Al Ahly, who also drew 0-0 against Inter Miami in their opener, this result puts their tournament hopes on thinner ice. They’ll need a result in their next game or risk packing their bags early.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first weather-interrupted match of the tournament. Earlier, Red Bull Salzburg vs Pachuca and Ulsan Hyundai vs Mamelodi Sundowns were also delayed due to thunderstorms. Looks like Mother Nature isn’t a fan of football being played on her terms.
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