Al Ain concluded their FIFA Club World Cup journey with a thrilling 2-1 comeback against Wydad at Audi Field in Washington, marking only the third instance of a team from Morocco facing off against a side from the Middle East.
Both sides were aware of their situation prior to kick-off – even a win wouldn’t suffice for progression from Group G, as both had succumbed to defeat in their opening two matches.
Wydad had performed significantly better in their clashes against heavyweight opponents Juventus and Manchester City, and they wasted no time here, seizing the lead in under five minutes when Cassius Mailula smashed a shot into the top corner from just outside the area.
They nearly doubled their advantage shortly after, but Oussama Zemraoui failed to make sufficient contact with Omar Al Souma’s header, causing the ball to trickle harmlessly wide.
Al Ain had to bide their time for their first opportunity, which came in the 20th minute when Yahya Ben Khaleq’s header narrowly missed the target, while only the crossbar denied Ayoub Boucheta at the opposite end.
The match began to truly open up, and moments after that scare, Soufiane Rahimi forced Al Ain’s goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid into an important save.
Al Ain appeared to have scored through a brilliantly executed finish from Kodjo Laba, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
However, Vladimir Ivic’s side found the equaliser before half-time from the penalty spot.
Adis Jasic was upended by Boucheta following Kaku’s clever through ball, and Laba stepped up to convert from 12 yards, sending the ball into the back of the net and setting the stage for a captivating second half.
The frenetic pace continued following the restart, and with their tails up, Al Ain seized the momentum to turn the game around.
Kaku emerged as the goalscorer, curling a shot into the top corner, successfully overcoming a VAR review for a potential foul in the build-up before the goal was confirmed.
While both teams remained eager to attack, genuine chances were fewer than in the first half. However, Al Ain came agonisingly close to a two-goal cushion when Laba was in position for what seemed an easy tap-in, but he surprisingly missed the target, sending the ball wide.
In the end, Al Ain managed to hold on for a memorable win, finishing the tournament strongly, a prospect that seemed unlikely after their initial two fixtures.
Conversely, Wydad will be left frustrated for not capitalising on their early dominance, ultimately settling at the bottom of their group.
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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