- Porto and Al Ahly played out a thrilling 4:4 draw in the final Group A match
- The result eliminated both teams from the Club World Cup despite Al Ahly leading four times
- Late equaliser by Pepe Aquino and a 2:2 draw in the other match sealed their fate
Key Takeaways:
Porto and Al Ahly produced one of the most thrilling clashes of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage, finishing in a dramatic 4:4 draw — a result that ultimately left both sides outside the knockout zone.
In the final match of Group A, the Egyptian giants led on four separate occasions thanks to a hat-trick from Wessam Abou Ali (15’, 45+2’ pen, 51’) and a goal by Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (64’), but Porto responded with remarkable resilience — Rodrigo Mora (23’), William Gomes (50’), Samu Aghehowa (53’) and Pepe Aquino (89’) secured a point for the Dragons.
An 𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥 between Porto and Al Ahly 🥵 pic.twitter.com/5x5YCtD4lX
— 433 (@433) June 24, 2025
The match was a whirlwind of emotions, twists, and relentless tension. Every new goal reshaped the live standings, and Al Ahly’s hopes of advancing stayed alive almost until the final whistle. At one point, the African giants were on the verge of a miracle — with a 4:3 lead of their own and Inter Miami temporarily 2:0 up over Palmeiras, the Pharaohs were edging toward qualification based on better goal difference.
But a late goal by Paulinho in the 80th minute, followed by Mauricio’s equaliser in the 87th in the other group game, where Inter Miami and Palmeiras ended 2:2, shattered Al Ahly’s ambitions. Fate turned minute by minute — just as the Egyptians needed one final strike, they conceded a late equaliser to Aquino, which definitively shut the door to the next stage.
For Porto, the match was about pride and survival, but the draw wasn’t enough — nor was it for Al Ahly. Both teams showed quality and character but were left empty-handed at the worst possible moment.