FIFA Intercontinental Cup: Pyramids FC shock Al Ahli with Mayele hat-trick

African club champions Pyramids FC stunned home supporters in Jeddah on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory to advance past Al Ahli Saudi FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Fiston Mayele and Mahmoud Zalaka were instrumental for the big spending Egyptian club in the second round match titled the “African-Asian-Pacific Cup”, with Congolese poacher Mayele producing a hat-trick for the visitors. Pyramids previously advanced to this round with an easy victory over Pacific representatives Auckland City of New Zealand.

Pyramids were clinical on their opportunities and frequently caused trouble for favorites Al Ahli with dangerous counter-attacks.

The first blow was dealt by Mayele in the 21st minute. Burkina Faso national team midfieler Ibrahim Blati Touré drove through the Ahli midfield with ease before placing a pass into the path of Mayele, who took a couple of touches before firing past Ahli and Senegal national team goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

The hosts restored parity just before halftime when Enzo Millot was tripped in the penalty area by Pyramids defender Osama Galal, setting up Ivan Toney to fire in his spot kick and level the match.

But after dominating possession in the first half, Ahli’s second half effort was poor and Pyramids gradually asserted themselves with more attacking intention. A quick burst of two goals in five minutes for Mayele lifted the CAF Champions League winners to victory.

In the 71st minute, a simple long ball from Pyramids keeper Ahmed El Shenawy found Zalaka on the right wing, who crossed low for Mayele to finish in a goal that exposed poor defending from Al Ahli. The hosts failed to gather themselves and less than four minutes later, Mayele got into scoring position again and went around Mendy to finish the goal that ended any hopes of a comeback for Ahli.

Pyramids will now await the winner of the “Derby of the Americas” in an unprecented opportunity for the club. Mexico’s Cruz Azul will meet the winner of South America’s Copa Libertadores, yet to be determined, for the other second round match on December 10.

The winner of the Derby of the Americas will meet Pyramids for a playoff match on December 13, titled the “Challenger Cup”, which will see the winner advance to the final where European champions Paris Saint-Germain will be waiting on December 17. The Intercontinental Cup is the successor competition of the former Club World Cup that was held yearly, which is now an expanded tournament held every four years after debuting over the summer this year.

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