Saved penalty sees Al-Ahly and Inter Miami end CWC opener goalless | OneFootball

Al-Ahly and Inter Miami split the points in Saturday's opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

The summer of soccer kicked off at Hard Rock Stadium as Egyptian champions Al-Ahly caused a headache for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.

In the first half, those in pink ran in circles, while those in red executed an expert game plan. Al-Ahly continuously slipped past Miami's defence but couldn't convert past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, while Abou Ali later saw a goal ruled out for offside.

Lionel Messi, carrying immense pressure to guide his side to victory, was very quiet in the first half. He made zero shots or key passes.

A few last-minute challenges conveyed Miami's frustration, and such tendencies almost led to the opener. A late challenge from Telasco Segovia gifted the Egyptian club a penalty, but Mahmoud Trezeguet saw his effort saved.

Just before half-time, it appeared Miami would break the deadlock as Luis Suarez and Telasco Segovia combined, but Abou Ali made a goal-saving clearance.

Coming out after the break, the match tempo still favoured Ah-Ahly while Miami struggled to find their identity. But then, around the hour mark, the former Barcelona man almost pulled off some magic.

Messi was fouled and subsequently won a free kick. Appearing smarter than almost everyone else, the serial Ballon d'Or winner opted to go around the wall but hit the post by mere inches.

The final half an hour continued to be a back-and-forth affair, but nothing genuinely troubled either goalkeeper until right at the end.

Miami had Fafa Picault threaten with not one but two headers off the bench, but each fell short. Messi, meanwhile, had a potential game winner tipped over the bar at the death.

The result means Al-Ahly and Inter Miami begin their Club World Cup campaigns with one point each in Group A.

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