February 5 – An Andre-Pierre Gignac brace and a Hussein El Shahat’s 30th-minute strike secured semi-final slots at the Club World Cup in Qatar for Concacaf champions Tigres UANL and the African champions Al Ahly.
Tigres UANL will now face Brazil’s club Palmeiras this weekend. Palmeiras hot-footed it to Qatar having only qualified for the tournament last Saturday beating Santos in the Copa Libertadores final. Tigres will fancy their chances. Al Ahly will face favourites Bayern Munich.
The European and South American champions qualify directly for the last four, but there was no such luxury for the other clubs participating in the Club World Cup that has been rearranged from 2020.
In the tournament’s curtain raiser Ulsan from South Korea met Tigres from Mexico. It was the first game for Ulsan’s new coach Hong Myung-bo, who famously captained South Korea at the 2002 World Cup. His charges got off to a good start with a glancing header from defender Kim Kee-hee finding the back of Tigres’ net in the 24th minute.
The Mexicans, however, were quick to respond with French striker Gignac (pictured) scoring twice before the break. It was enough for Tigres to ensure victory, with Ulsan rarely threatening in a tepid second half.
If Tigres triumph over Palmeiras on Sunday it will be the first time a team from the Concacaf region of North, Central America and the Caribbean has ever reached the Club World Cup final.
In the other semi-final, Al Ahly will play Bayern Munich. Backed by noisy fans, who didn’t always respect social distancing rules at the Education City Stadium, the Egyptians were firm favourites against local club and host representative Al Duhail, whose coach Sabri Lamouchi gambled by not starting Mohammed Muntari and Ali Almoez.
The African champions dominated the first half and capitalised on one of the many turnovers for El Shahat to drive home from the edge of the penalty area at the half-hour mark. After the break, Al Ahly however were guilty of leaning back too much and invited pressure from the home side with two chances falling to striker Edmilson.
In the end, Duhail couldn’t find the breakthrough,with Pitso Mosimane’s men securing passage to the last four.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713277617labto1713277617ofdlr1713277617owedi1713277617sni@o1713277617fni1713277617