Al-Ahly will face Real Madrid next Wednesday in the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022 semi-finals after edging a tight last-eight duel with debutants Seattle Sounders.
Mohamed Afsha’s deflected effort two minutes from time settled an evenly matched quarter-final in which defences were on top, with only one shot on target prior to the Egypt international’s late winner.
While Sounders performed creditably throughout, the threat of Afsha had been growing as the second half wore on.
The forward, who already has two bronze medals at this competition to his name, had shot narrowly wide as Al Ahly – backed by a noisy support – pushed for a winner.
Then, with two minutes remaining, Afhsa picked the ball up 20 yards from goal and curled a right-foot shot against the face of the crossbar.
The Sounders thought disaster had been averted but, in failing to properly clear, they allowed the Ahly star a second shot at goal.
And while Afsha’s second effort looked to be drifting harmlessly into the goalkeeper’s gloves, a deflection sent it spinning into the opposite corner and consigned the Americans to a cruel defeat.
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