That's better

Although Ahli crashed out of the semi-final, their performance in the World Club Championship improved from last year, reports Inas Mazhar

---

Click to view caption

Auckland City goalkeeper Ross looks on helplessly as Abou Treika's free kick goes in

Despite yesterday's 2-1 loss to Brazilian club Internacional, Ahli of Egypt will leave Japan with heads held high, having kept their promise to play better at this year's edition after finishing last in the event last year. This time, they will finish no worse than fourth out of the six teams.At one time yesterday the score in the semi-final of the World Club Championship was 1-1 and it looked like Ahli could take the South Americans to penalties. But an Adriano Luiz header with less than 20 minutes to go knocked out the African champions and put Internacional into the final.

Ahli remain in the competition and will play for third and fourth place on Saturday. They will play the loser of today's semi-final between Club America of Mexico and European giants Barcelona.

The final is slated for Sunday 17 December.

Twenty minutes into yesterday's game, Ahli were as good as Internacional as the TV screen showed that both teams were equal in ball possession at 50-50.

However, from a defensive mistake Internacional's Alexandre Pato opened the scoring for his team in the 23rd minute. The error came from Ahli defenders Emad El-Nahhas and Hassan Mustafa who bumped into each other, allowing the ball to bounce to the 17-year-old striker Pato who netted from close range.

The Red devils then lost at least three decent chances to level as Mohamed Shawki and Emad El-Nahhas came close and Mohamed Abou Treika hit the post. Other attempts were saved by goalkeeper Clemer.

Seven minutes into the second half, Flavio received a volley from Tarek El-Said from the left and netted a perfect header to level the score with the kings of the CONMEBOL.

The goal unsettled the Brazilians who appeared ready to panic but soon returned to their normal rhythm when Luiz sent a header from a corner to give his team a 2-1 lead in the 72 minute.

The goal forced El-Hadari into a split which forced him to be substituted by Amir Abdel-Hamid.

Before going into the match, head coach Manuel Jose was quoted by FIFA's website as saying Ahli needed more belief in themselves. "My players don't need to think about things too much. We have nothing to lose. At worst we'll gain valuable experience."

Jose remained a picture of unruffled calm ahead of the meeting with Internacional. "We were under a lot of pressure last year, as we were favourites against the Saudi Arabian team and the Australians. But Inter are favourites this time, and that'll help us. My men need be frightened of nothing."The Portuguese coach was keen to pass on the insights he has gleaned in the course of a long and distinguished coaching career at a range of top-flight clubs in Portugal. He naturally keeps a close eye on the Brazilian football scene and was not expecting to be surprised by the opponents. "There's simply a huge difference between Brazilian and Egyptian football," the 60- year-old remarked.

There was also a huge difference between Ahli and New Zealand outfit Auckland City when the two met for the first game of the tournament on Sunday. Ahli and their Oceania counterparts served up an attractive duel. But it was the Egyptians who ran out 2-0 winners.

As soon as the referee blew the final whistle, celebrations erupted throughout the city, a scene reminiscent of the African Nations Cup won in February and the African Champions League Ahli won last month.

People honked their car horns in jubilation and fans poured onto the streets waving the red flags of Ahli's jersey.

Actually, the city had donned the red colour since the morning of the opening match. A working day in Egypt, offices and schools registered a high percentage of absence as fans left for coffee shops to watch the match which was broadcast live on a satellite channel at noon. And those who had TV subscriptions stayed home to watch the match.

"It's an important game which I can't miss. It's not every day that Ahli plays in such a big competition, and it really matters to all Ahli fans," said Ismail Hussein, who skipped school on Sunday to watch the game.

"Luckily, my family subscribed to the satellite channel, so I watched the game at home and I invited some friends and neighbours over. We love to watch games as if we are in the stadium."

Mohamed Youssef, an accountant, took office leave that day to book a place at a coffee shop. "The coffee shop was so crowded, and so were many all over Cairo," Youssef said. "I guess they made good money that day.

"I'm glad we won. It was a better performance this year. Even if we lose to the Brazilian team, we will play for a third place."

The other semi-final will see Club America of Mexico facing Euro giants Barcelona, who received a hero's reception on their arrival in Japan. The CONCAF winners made it to the semi- final with a 1-0 victory over Asian winners Joentux of South Korea in their opening match.According to the FIFA website, Ahli's opening match against Auckland got off to a fascinating start of the championship as both sides settled quickly into their respective rhythms, although it was Ahli who produced the more cultured football.

Prompted by playmaker Abou Treika, the Egyptians dominated possession with short, precise passes, and, with livewire forwards Flavio and Emad Meteb full of running up front, it only seemed a matter of time before the African champions would take the lead. That they failed to do so at this stage was down to a combination of profligate finishing and desperate defending from the Kiwis.

So it was nil-nil at half time. But in the second half, the Cairo-based Ahli continued to move the ball around after the restart and were rewarded for their patient approach six minutes in when Flavio picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and lashed a fierce right-footed drive past helpless Ross into the top corner to give his team a 1-0 lead. Abou Treika almost doubled the lead minutes later when he danced through the Auckland defence only for Ross to make a fine block with his feet. Meteb was next to try his luck but saw his shot from near the penalty spot dribble harmlessly wide.

With the Egyptians continuing to monopolise the game, Auckland coach Allan Jones looked to his bench for answers and brought on Teru Iwamoto and Jason Hayne. The switch made little difference, and it came as no surprise when Abou Treika capped a fine display by stroking a superbly flighted free-kick over the wall and past the stranded Ross, netting Ahli's second goal in the 73rd minute. Ahli had played the match wearing a winter outfit, long sleeves and gloves. The players looked cold, unlike their New Zealand opponents who seemed accustomed to the weather.

A colourful ceremony kicked off the Club World Cup Japan 2006 on Sunday 10 December before attention turned to the task of deciding the top club team among the six continental champions.

The opening ceremony for last year's championship was held at the National Stadium in Tokyo but this year the setting was Toyota City, home of Toyota, the event's presenting partner.

Ahead of the curtain raiser between Auckland City and Ahli, Toyota Stadium hosted a special Fan Fest that had people queuing up hours before its official 13:00 opening time. On a bright sunny afternoon, around 10,000 people packed the event space, including families, couples and supporters of both sides.

Among the attractions helping to create a pre- match atmosphere were the astonishing juggling wizardry and freestyle football of the group Cube, and a special talk show featuring analyst and former Japan striker Nobuhiro Takeda.

Naming "Barcelona, of course" as the likely winner of the Club World Cup, Takeda hastened to add that there are no certainties in football. "Each club is a continental representative, so they'll battle in earnest. That's what's great about this competition."