Pyramids FC 3-0 Auckland City FC
Pyramids goal: Walid El Karti (14), Marwan Hamdy (74), Mostafa Ziko (85)
Pyramids FC have advanced to the next stage of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Auckland City in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-off.
Goals from Walid El Karti, Marwan Hamdy and Mostafa Ziko made the difference at the Cairo side’s 30 June Stadium as the dominant African champions overcame stiff resistance from their Oceanian counterparts.
Pyramids now march on to face Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, winners of the AFC Champions League Elite, in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific-Cup – and stand just two matches from an Intercontinental Cup decider against Paris Saint-Germain.
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Krunoslav Jurcic’s side emerged as deserving victors, and the outcome was rarely in doubt from the moment they swept into a 14th-minute lead.
Brazilian winger Ewerton played a key role, delivering an inviting left-foot cross that was deflected into the path of Walid El Karti. From there, the Moroccan made no mistake, finishing emphatically to ease any sense of tension around the Cairo arena.
The Egyptians continued lay siege to the visitors’ goal and thought they’d doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark before Mohamed Hamdy’s bullet header was ruled out, correctly as it proved, for offside.
Auckland’s one big chance came, predictably, on a counter-attack, with the speedy Dylan Manickum slicing wide when clean through to spurn a gilt-edged opportunity to claim a shock second-half equaliser.
All doubt was removed, however, when Marwan Hamdy struck 16 minutes from time, powering home an unstoppable header from close range to end the Kiwis’ hopes.
Substitute Ziko then added a smartly taken third, snatching possession from the tiring Auckland defence before curling a superb shot inside the far post.
Al Ahli now await for Pyramids, with the victors in that match set to face either Mexico’s Cruz Azul, Concacaf Champions Cup winners, or the yet-to-be-determined CONMEBOL Libertadores champions.
Whichever team emerges triumphant from that FIFA Challenger Cup fixture can then look forward to a battle for Intercontinental Cup glory with PSG, the kings of Europe.
Quotes
“It’s a wonderful feeling to win because this is our first time participating in a tournament organised by FIFA, and we hope to go as far as possible. I believe we are capable of beating Al Ahli and we’ll give everything we have and try to win the match. Our ambition has grown since winning the African title, because we have the right capabilities, and we now trust in our ability to achieve other major [international] titles. Facing Paris Saint-Germain in the final would be a huge motivation for us, but we must first focus on the next match and take it step by step.”
Osama Jalal, Pyramids player
