FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Inter Miami and Al Ahly Play Out Goalless Thriller in Opener

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The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicked off with a dramatic yet goalless draw between Inter Miami and Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Despite the absence of goals, the match was brimming with intensity, close chances, and outstanding goalkeeping displays at both ends.

Al Ahly started the stronger of the two sides, dominating possession and creating several high-quality chances in the first half. Inter Miami found themselves under immense pressure early, but veteran Argentine goalkeeper Oscar Ustari put on a masterclass to keep the scores level.

Ustari denied Emam Ashour from close range before pulling off a sensational penalty save against Trezeguet in the 42nd minute. The Africans also had a goal chalked off for offside and seemed unlucky not to go into the break with a lead.

Inter Miami, despite struggling to create clear openings, almost stole the lead late in the first half when Abu Ali produced an acrobatic goal-line clearance to deny a certain goal. Lionel Messi had a quiet opening 45 minutes and even suffered a brief injury scare after taking a knock to his knee, but he continued without further trouble.

The second half saw a slight momentum shift as Miami pushed forward with more intent. Tadeo Allende came close early after the restart, while Messi grew into the game with a couple of long-range efforts, including a clever free-kick that rippled the side-netting and a curling effort that rattled the bar. Substitute Fafa Picault nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful header, only to be denied by a brilliant reaction save from Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

The final moments saw end-to-end football, with both teams pressing hard for a winner. However, neither could find the breakthrough as the match ended 0-0 - a result that reflected the balance between Al Ahly's attacking dominance and Inter Miami's resilience.

Oscar Ustari was deservedly named Man of the Match for his heroics in goal, which ensured Inter Miami walked away with a crucial point in their Group Stage opener. Al Ahly, while impressive, will rue their missed chances as they look to regroup for their next fixture.