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Al Ahly Suffers First Loss to Palmeiras at Club World Cup

Al Ahly of Egypt endured their first defeat at the FIFA Club World Cup currently taking place in the United States, falling 0–2 to Brazil’s Palmeiras in Group A.

The goals came via an own goal by Wissam Abu Ali (49′) and an effort from Argentine substitute Flaco López (59′), putting Palmeiras at the top of the group with four points—despite Inter Miami’s 2–1 win over Porto, led by Argentine star Lionel Messi.

Al Ahly still has a final chance to progress when they face Porto on June 23 at the same venue.

After this loss, the Egyptian champions continue to hold the record for the most defeats in Club World Cup history with 15. However, they remain second in total wins (10), trailing only Real Madrid (12).

In the group’s other match, Messi secured Inter Miami’s comeback with a spectacular free-kick goal in the 54th minute, after young Venezuelan Telasco Segovia had equalized early in the second half (47′)—responding to Porto’s opener from Spaniard Samu Omorodion (8′, penalty).

Both Inter Miami and Palmeiras now need only a point in their upcoming head-to-head meeting to guarantee qualification, though the top spot in the group remains up for grabs.

Shock Loss for European Champions

European champions Paris Saint-Germain suffered a surprising 0–1 defeat to South American champions Botafogo in Group B.

It marked PSG’s first loss after six consecutive wins in all competitions, with the decisive goal once again coming from Igor Jesus (36′), who also netted the winner against Seattle Sounders in their opening 2–1 victory—placing Botafogo at the top of the group.

Luis Enrique’s side paid the price for resting several key players. Even after making changes in the second half, PSG failed to find a way past Botafogo’s resolute defense.

The lone goal came after PSG’s Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia lost the ball in the opposition half, triggering a rapid counterattack led by Venezuelan Jefferson Savarino. He released Igor Jesus, who skillfully maneuvered between PSG defenders Lucas Beraldo and Ecuadorian Willian Pacho before firing a shot that deflected off Pacho and beat Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (36′).

In the same group, Atlético Madrid bounced back from their 0–4 thrashing by PSG with a 3–1 win over Seattle Sounders, reviving their qualification hopes as they moved into third place with three points.

Pablo Barrios opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from the edge of the area that clipped the underside of the crossbar and went in (11′). Belgian Axel Witsel doubled the lead less than two minutes into the second half, finishing after a scramble in the box involving Marcos Llorente and a final pass from Robin Le Normand (47′).

Seattle pulled one back quickly. Danny Musovski’s header deflected off Le Normand and landed at the feet of Slovakian Albert Rusnák, whose shot was further deflected off Llorente and into the net (51′).

But Barrios restored the two-goal margin just five minutes later, capitalizing on a loose ball inside the box after a clearance to fire home emphatically (56′).

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