A stunning eight-goal thriller at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey saw FC Porto and Al Ahly FC share the spoils in a thrilling 4-4 draw, but the point wasn’t enough as the former African champions exited the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Al Ahly began brightly and took the lead in the 15th minute when Wessam Abou Ali slotted home after a clever assist from Hamdy Fathy. But Porto responded in style in the 23rd minute as Rodrigo Mora danced past defenders before coolly rounding the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
Just before the interval, Zizo was brought down in the area and Abou Ali made no mistake from the spot before halftime, restoring Al Ahly’s lead heading into the break. 2-1!
The second period exploded into life with three goals in as many minutes: William Gomes rifled home a sublime effort from distance to level for Porto (50’).
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Moments later, Abou Ali completed his hat-trick with a towering header (51’).
But Porto hit back again through Samu Aghehowa’s well-timed header from a Fábio Vieira corner (53’). Al Ahly surged ahead once more through a stunning curler from Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (64′), assisted by Achraf Bencharki — a strike that will surely be a contender for goal of the tournament.
But in the dying moments, with the match at a fever pitch and both teams throwing everything forward, Pepê delivered a hammer blow — lashing in an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner in the 89th minute to level it at 4–4.
Wessam Abou Ali stole the headlines with a superb hat-trick for the Egyptian giants, but a last-gasp rocket from Porto’s Pepê meant both clubs bowed out despite producing one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches.
Al Ahly showed grit in front of their travelling fans who came out in their numbers to paint the stadium red.