Head coach Riveiro reacts after Al Ahly fall to Palmeiras in Club World Cup clash

Photo: Al Ahly SC

Al Ahly head coach José Riveiro spoke after his side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Brazil’s Palmeiras in the second round from Group A at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The match took place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and was suspended midway through the second half due to severe weather.

“One free kick and it’s 1-0, and then we give away the ball for another one,” Riveiro said as quoted by FIFA official website after the match.

“I think it was a 50-50 game before that, but they scored the goals and the game was beyond us. We tried to come back after the storm with a new approach but we didn't manage to create enough,” he continued.

Palmeiras opened the scoring in the 49th minute when Al Ahly’s Wessam Abou Ali mistakenly turned the ball into his own net. The Brazilian side doubled their lead ten minutes later, as striker José López broke through the defense and finished clinically in the 59th minute.

Just moments after the second goal, the match was brought to an unexpected halt due to extreme weather conditions. The referee spoke with both coaches—Riveiro and Abel Ferreira of Palmeiras—before suspending the match. Fans were instructed via stadium screens to evacuate their seats and take shelter inside the venue for safety reasons.

After more than half an hour, the game was resumed and the result remained the same, giving Palmeiras the three points from the game.

All four teams in Group B—Al Ahly, Palmeiras, Inter Miami (USA), and FC Porto (Portugal)—started the day level on one point each following draws in their opening fixtures. Palmeiras now move top of the group with four points, while Al Ahly remain on one.