Al Ahly 0–0 Inter Miami: Messi denied by bar as Inter Miami survive Al Ahly onslaught | OneFootball

Inter Miami were held to a goalless draw by Al Ahly in their FIFA Club World Cup Group A opener, despite a dramatic late effort from Lionel Messi that rattled the crossbar in stoppage time. The MLS side were largely second best on the night, relying on goalkeeper Oscar Ustari’s heroics – including a crucial first-half penalty save – to keep the dominant Egyptian champions at bay. Miami struggled to create clear chances, while Al Ahly carved out numerous opportunities but lacked the cutting edge to make them count.

Following this 0-0 stalemate, Group A remains finely poised. Both teams earned a point, with tougher tests ahead against Porto and Palmeiras in what promises to be a tight race for the knockout spots. Inter Miami will need to improve significantly in attack, while Al Ahly can take confidence from their performance but will regret not capitalising on their superiority.

As it happened

From the very first whistle, Al Ahly took control of the game, dictating the tempo and putting Inter Miami under pressure. Inside 10 minutes, Wessam Abou Ali capitalised on a defensive slip to go through on goal, but his finish was tame and straight at Ustari. The Egyptian side kept pushing, with Trezeguet proving a constant threat down the flank, regularly getting in behind the Miami defence.

The best chance of the half came on 42 minutes when Zizo was clipped in the box by Telasco Segovia, earning a penalty. But Trezeguet’s strike from the spot was brilliantly saved by Ustari, diving to his right to keep Inter Miami level at the break.

Al Ahly continued to dominate in the second half, piling forward and probing for a breakthrough. Miami struggled to get out of their own half but had occasional moments of promise on the break. Messi came close with a free-kick that brushed the side netting, tricking some in the crowd into thinking it was in. His deliveries from set pieces caused problems, and he almost set up a winner for Fabrice-Jean Picault, whose header was well saved by Mohamed El Shenawy.

As the game entered stoppage time, Messi nearly stole the headlines. He played a quick one-two with Noah Allen from a short free-kick and curled a shot towards the top corner. El Shenawy somehow got a fingertip to it, pushing the ball onto the crossbar as Miami came within inches of a dramatic late winner.

In the end, it finished goalless. Al Ahly felt they deserved more, having controlled much of the match, but Miami – thanks in large part to Ustari’s heroics and the woodwork – escaped with a point.

The lineups