‘Horrible feeling’ – Al Ahly’s Abou Ali gutted with own goal at FIFA Club World Cup

Photo Credit – Al Ahly.

Al Ahly forward Wessam Abou Ali has revealed his disappointment after his own goal set the club to a 2-0 FIFA Club World Cup defeat against Palmeiras at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on Thursday.

48' ⚽ GOAL! We have the first goal of Group A: Abou Ali with the unlucky header for an own goal and @Palmeiras lead! 💚

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The Egyptian giants went into the fixture hoping to get a win and stay on course to qualify from the group stages of the global showpiece in the USA. After a closely fought first half which produced a 0-0 outcome, the second period kicked off with the Brazilians on the front foot and seeking to break the deadlock.

Palmeiras eventually scored in the 49th minute when Abou Ali scored into his own with a header before substitute José Manuel López made it 2-0 in the 59th minute. The Palestine international admitted that the unfortunate own goal early in the second stanza tilted the match in the Brazilians’ favour from which Al Ahly never recovered.

“It was a good first half from us,” said Abou Ali as quoted by FIFA.com. “I feel like we were dominating from the first minute and we were doing well. It was only a bit dangerous [from Palmeiras] on long balls and some set pieces.

“The second half, though, was not good enough from us. We were too far from each other and we gave them two easy goals. I mean, I scored an own goal for the first time in my life. I went up to clear the ball and it touched the top of my head and went in. It’s a horrible feeling obviously because that’s not the way you want to start the second half.”

Following the defeat, Al Ahly remained bottom with a solitary point and have now gone 180 minutes without scoring in the United States—a statistic they must correct against Porto on Tuesday if they hope to extend their American adventure.