Pachuca from Mexico led by Uruguay Guillermo Almada,won 6-5 on penalties against Al Achly of Egypt for the semi-finals Intercontinental Cup in the stadium 974 from Doha,Qatar. They are the second Concacaf team to reach the final in the history of this competition, where they will face this Wednesday from 2:00 (Argentina time) the Real Madrid there Lusail’s situation.
The game lasted for 120 minutes based. Due to parity in regulation time, the story went to the first overtime of this edition and the fear of both teams took them into extra time. The inefficiency in the last meters with the need to keep zero in the goals made the process at ease. This did not prevent the appearance of dangerous plays, but the tie was res judicata and penalties were the way to dismantle the contest.
The series began with a save Mohamed El-Shenawy a Salomon Rondon and further failure of Borja Baston It gave the advantage to the African team, who had a double chance to advance to the stage. However, the goalkeeper of the Tuzos ban on party Career and, in the next turn, omar Kamal He shot to the side of the right post.In the eighth maximum penalty of each, Faber Gil the Mexicans bore and Khaled Abdelfata He could not complete a conversion to end his team.
This was the second official clash between the two in FIFA organized competitions. The first was in the quarter-finals of the 2008 Club World cup in Japan, where Pachuca won 4-2 in overtime.
To the Tuzos this is his fifth participation in FIFA competitions. His best performance came in the 2017 Club World Cup, when he finished third.
the victory In his first 3-0 against Botafogo (champion of the Copa Libertadores) he managed to put behind him the weak presentation of the team from Liga MX in recent years. Monterrey y a lion they finished fifth and sixth in the editions of Conradh na Gaeilge 2021 y 2023 respectively. So far, Tigers They were the only Concacaf team in the final, but fell 0-1 in the final against Bayern Munich (it belonged to the 2020 edition, but was played in 2021).
Al achly for his part, a regular in this type of tournament, successfully representing his continent in different editions. They have finished third in three of the last four World Cups and, in the other, they were fourth. He never had the pleasure of playing the decisive match for the title.
Real Madrid He is the main winner of this prestigious competition Intercontinental Cup with five titles, and follow them Barcelona (3), Corinthians (2) y Bayern Munich (2).It was the last championship City of manchester in 2023. The Argentine teams that represented the country were Boca Juniors, Estudiantes, River Plate and San Lorenzo with a runner-up finish for each.
DEFINED BY CRIMINAL
Pachuca: Salomón Rondón (Save El-Shenawy), Borja bastón (MISSED), Gustavo Cabral (GOAL), Oussama Idrissi (GOAL), Nelson Deossa (GOAL), Elias Montiel (GOAL), luis Rodríguez (GOAL) and Faber Gil (GOAL ).
Al Achly: Afsha (GOAL), Ramy Rabia (GOAL), Marwan Attia (GOAL), Kahraba (Moreno saved), Omar Kamal (MISSED), Amr El Soleya (GOAL), Percy Tau (GOAL) and Khaled Abdelfattah (MISSED).
Trainer:
Situation: 974 (Doha, Qatar)
Arbitrator: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
What impact will Pachuca’s victory over al Ahly have on the perception of CONCACAF teams in international football?
Title: A Historic Clash: Pachuca vs.Real Madrid in the Intercontinental Cup
Interviewer: Welcome to time.news, where we dive deep into the stories that shape our world. Today, we’re thrilled to have with us football expert Dr.Carlos Mendoza, who specializes in international football dynamics. Carlos, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Mendoza: Thank you for having me! It’s an exciting time for football fans, especially with the upcoming match between Pachuca and Real Madrid.
Interviewer: Absolutely! Let’s talk about pachuca’s incredible journey to the Intercontinental Cup final. They’ve just defeated Al Ahly from Egypt on penalties. What does this victory mean for a team from the CONCACAF region?
Dr. Mendoza: This is a monumental achievement for Pachuca and for CONCACAF as a whole.They become only the second team from this region to reach the final of the Intercontinental Cup, highlighting the growing competitiveness of North American football on the global stage.
Interviewer: The match lasted a full 120 minutes before going to penalties. What can you tell us about the strategic decisions both teams made during that lengthy match?
Dr. mendoza: The match was a classic tactical battle. Both teams seemed to play conservatively to maintain a strong defensive shape, especially given the stakes. As the match progressed into overtime, you could see some fatigue setting in, wich likely contributed to a lack of efficiency in the attacking third.Nevertheless, both teams had their moments, creating perilous chances but unable to convert due to solid defensive efforts.
Interviewer: And now, they face the formidable Real Madrid. What challenges do you think Pachuca will encounter against such a storied team?
Dr. Mendoza: Facing Real Madrid is always a daunting task. They have the experience, technical skill, and depth of squad that can be overwhelming. Pachuca will need to maintain their defensive association and capitalize on any counterattacking opportunities. Midfield control will be crucial; they’ll want to disrupt Real Madrid’s rythm and prevent them from dictating the pace of the game.
Interviewer: Do you think Pachuca’s recent experience in high-pressure situations, like the penalty shootout against Al Ahly, will benefit them in this final?
Dr. Mendoza: Absolutely. That experience is invaluable. The pressure of a penalty shootout can be daunting, but having come through it successfully will give them confidence. They’ve already demonstrated resilience and the ability to perform under pressure, which will be essential in a final against a team like Real Madrid.
Interviewer: What are some key player matchups you’ll be keeping an eye on during the game?
Dr. Mendoza: A key matchup will likely be between Pachuca’s attacking players and Real Madrid’s defense.If Pachuca can utilize their speed and creativity in the attack,they may catch Real Madrid off guard. Additionally, how well Pachuca’s midfield can stifle the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos will be critical. Their ability to win that battle could dictate the match’s tempo.
Interviewer: it promises to be an exciting matchup! Before we wrap up,what’s your prediction for the game?
Dr. Mendoza: It’s hard to predict, given the unpredictability of finals, but if Pachuca sticks to their game plan and plays to their strengths, we could witness a very competitive match.However, Real Madrid’s vast experience in such situations makes them the favorites.
Interviewer: Thank you, Carlos! Your insights are always invaluable. We look forward to seeing how this historic encounter unfolds.
Dr. Mendoza: Thank you! It’s a pleasure,and let’s hope for an entertaining match.
Interviewer: That’s it for today’s interview. keep an eye on this thrilling final as pachuca takes on Real Madrid for the Intercontinental Cup. Until next time!