Pachuca Stuns Al Ahly to Set Up Real Madrid Showdown in Intercontinental Final

Sunday 15 December 2024 - 09:30

Mexican football club Pachuca secured a dramatic victory over Egypt’s Al Ahly in the FIFA Challenger Cup semi-final, earning their spot in the Intercontinental Cup final against European champions Real Madrid. The tightly contested match, held at Stadium 974 in Doha, ended in a goalless draw before Pachuca triumphed 6-5 in a tense penalty shootout.

The match saw Al Ahly dominate possession and create more scoring opportunities, testing the Pachuca goalkeeper five times compared to three attempts by the Mexican side. Despite this, the African club fell short during penalties, with Khaled Abdel Fattah’s decisive miss hitting the crossbar. The victory was not without challenges, as Pachuca’s coach, Guillermo Almada, acknowledged the toll of the “marathon game” on his players.

Pachuca will now face Real Madrid in the highly anticipated final at Lusail Stadium on Wednesday. This venue, notable for hosting the FIFA World Cup final two years ago, will once again be in the global spotlight.

Pachuca’s journey to the final has been remarkable. In the previous round, they delivered an emphatic 3-0 victory over Brazilian side Botafogo in the Derby of the Americas. The win was powered by second-half goals from Oussama Idrissi, Nelson Deossa, and Salomon Rondon. Botafogo entered the match fresh off a domestic double in Brazil, making Pachuca’s upset even more impressive.

This success marks a continuation of a stellar year for the Mexican club, which also claimed the Concacaf Champions Cup in June with a 3-0 victory over MLS side Columbus Crew. Now, Pachuca has their sights set on the Intercontinental Cup final, where they will face a formidable Real Madrid side eager to defend their European supremacy.

As the football world turns its attention to Lusail Stadium, the stage is set for an unforgettable clash between North American underdogs Pachuca and Spanish giants Real Madrid.