Sun Jun 15 03:03:39 UTC 2025: ## Messi Spark Ignites Inter Miami Comeback, But Al Ahly Hold Firm in Club World Cup Opener
**Miami, FL** – Lionel Messi sparked a second-half resurgence for Inter Miami, but it wasn’t enough to break the deadlock as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Egyptian giants Al Ahly in their opening Group A match of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday.
The match, played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, saw a dominant first-half performance from Al Ahly, who were repeatedly denied by Inter Miami’s veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. Ustari proved the hero, saving a penalty from Trezeguet in the 43rd minute to keep the score level.
The second half saw a transformed Inter Miami side, largely thanks to the influence of Messi. The Argentinian superstar orchestrated numerous attacks, including a stunning late curler that was tipped onto the crossbar by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. El Shenawy also denied a late header from Maximiliano Falcon to secure the draw for the Egyptian side.
“I’m happy with the performance. It was much better in the second half,” said Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano. “We dominated the second half and had the chances to win the game.”
Al Ahly’s manager, Jose Riviera, expressed disappointment at his team’s inability to convert their first-half chances. “We had a decent amount of chances in the first half to put the game into a different space. We couldn’t,” he said.
The match was notable for the strong support from Egyptian fans, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a home game for Al Ahly.
Inter Miami will look to bounce back when they face Porto in their next group match, while Al Ahly will take on Palmeiras. The draw leaves Group A wide open, with Palmeiras and Porto set to play their first match on Sunday.
First Piper 