Cybereagles

Al-Ahly of Egypt beat New Zealand’s Auckland City 3-0 in the opening game. Morocco (fresh off its impressive World Cup campaign) is the host country.

The European (Real Madrid) and South American teams will join later.

FIFA is trialling a new system whereby the referee verbally announces VAR decisions to the crowd over the stadium’s PA system. Its first victim was Auckland’s Adam Mitchell whom the ref (after viewing the VAR monitor) told the crowd he was going to send off for DOGO before showing Mitchell the red card in the 97th minute.

Next up: Wydad (Morocco) v Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia).

https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/watch/ ... )(ch_)(t_)

It has had the feel of an "Arab Club Cup" before because of the host venue (Morocco) and that all the match winners so far are clubs from Arab countries: Al Ahly (Egypt), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) and Wydad (Morocco).

Round 2 (Saturday February 4, 2023)

Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) 1 v Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 1 AET (3-5 on penalties)

We saw another first as after a VAR check, the ref Ivan Barton (El Salvador) had wrongly booked Hilal’s Colombian midfielder Gustavo Cuellar for a foul actually committed by his teammate Mohamed Kanno. After VAR confirmed the mistaken identity, the ref issued a second yellow card to Kanno and then a red card (which he announced to the stadium over its PA system).

https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/watch/ ... )(ch_)(t_)

Seattle Sounders (USA) 0 v Al Ahly (Egypt) 1

Anthony Taylor (Premier League ref) officiated this game. Ahly won with an 88th minute goal.

Semi-final 1 (Tuesday February 7, 2023)

Flamengo (Brazil) 2 v Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 3

Al Hilal become the first Saudi team to reach the final of the WCC and will play the winner of Wednesday's semi-final between Real Madrid (Spain) and Al Ahly (Egypt).

*Wednesday February 8, 2023*

Semi-final 2:
Al Ahly (Egypt ) 1 v Real Madrid (Spain ) 4

This is the 5th time that Al Ahly has lost in the semi-final. Ahly put in a great effort against the European champions and their GK El Shenawy saved Luka Modric's penalty. I have seen Ahly play in the African Champions League a few times and have never seen them play at a tempo as high as they displayed against Madrid. Madrid's extra quality and experience was the difference (especially for the first goal where Vinicius Jr ruthlessly punished a mistake by Ahly's Metwaly).

The scoreline was harsh on Ahly and made the game seem more one-sided than it really was. The score was 2-1 after 91 minutes and Ahly were pushing for an equaliser when Madrid scored 2 more goals in the 92nd and 98th minutes.

Madrid will play Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia ) in the final on Sunday.

wiseone wrote: ↑Thu Feb 09, 2023 2:31 am *Wednesday February 8, 2023*

Semi-final 2:
Al Ahly (Egypt ) 1 v Real Madrid (Spain ) 4

This is the 5th time that Al Ahly has lost in the semi-final. Ahly put in a great effort against the European champions and their GK El Shenawy saved Luka Modric's penalty. I have seen Ahly play in the African Champions League a few times and have never seen them play at a tempo as high as they displayed against Madrid. Madrid's extra quality and experience was the difference (especially for the first goal where Vinicius Jr ruthlessly punished a mistake by Ahly's Metwaly).

Madrid will play Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia ) in the final on Sunday.

...when you face a top and professional side you better bring your 'A' game.
Leeds Utd did that today and nearly beat a top side ManUtd.