Mexico’s Pachuca defeated Egyptian aspect Al Ahly on penalties to arrange Intercontinental Cup last with Spanish giants Actual Madrid in Qatar.
Mexican aspect Pachuca beat Egypt’s Al Ahly on penalties at Stadium 974 in Doha on Saturday to assert the Challenger Cup and seal their place in FIFA’s Intercontinental Cup last.
Pachuca will now face Spanish giants Actual Madrid, who enter the event within the last as European champions, in Wednesday’s showpiece in Qatar.
The South American aspect beat the African outfit 6-5 on penalties following a goalless semi-final, wherein Al Ahly edged the possession and examined the keeper 5 occasions to Pachuca’s three.
4 spot kicks have been missed by the perimeters, together with the opening penalty by Pachuca’s Salomon Rondon, earlier than the decisive second noticed right-back Khaled Abdel Fattah hit the bar together with his effort.
“It was troublesome, very difficult, particularly due to the marathon recreation we performed right this moment,” mentioned Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada. “We’ll attempt to get the gamers again on their toes and go into the sport (last) with all of the motivation on this planet.”
Wednesday’s last in opposition to Madrid will probably be performed at Lusail Stadium, which hosted the World Cup last between Argentina and France two years in the past.
A crowd of 38,841 have been in attendance at Stadium 974 on Saturday, which was constructed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup with that variety of delivery containers to be a “beacon of sustainability” as a part of Qatar’s pledge to ship the primary carbon-neutral event.
Pachuca of Mexico had romped to an upset in opposition to Brazilian aspect Botafogo with a 3-0 win within the final spherical – the Derby of the Americas – because of second-half strikes from Pachuca’s Oussama Idrissi, Nelson Deossa and Rondon.
Botafogo had solely simply accomplished the home double in Brazil.
The win for Pachuca continues a outstanding yr that has already seen them elevate the Concacaf Champions Cup after a 3-0 win within the last in opposition to MLS aspect Columbus Crew in early June.
