African champions Sundowns to face Al Ahli in high-profile FIFA Intercontinental Cup clash
African champions Mamelodi Sundowns will face Saudi Arabian giants Al Ahli in the next stage of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup after the Asian champions edged Auckland FC 1-0 in Jeddah on Wednesday.
Substitute Saleh Abu Al Shamat scored the only goal of the match in the 63rd minute to send Al Ahli through from the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-off and set up a meeting with Sundowns on 19 September.
The result means Sundowns now know the identity of the side standing between them and the next step in their pursuit of global club honours.
Al Ahli, winners of the AFC Champions League Elite, had to work hard for their victory against an Auckland side that remained competitive for long periods despite arriving without a competitive match since lifting the A-League title in May.
Al Ahli made to work in Jeddah
Playing in front of their home supporters at Alinma Stadium, Al Ahli started strongly under new coach Marino Pusic and created the first clear opening after 17 minutes.
Brazilian winger Galeno found space in the box and tried to guide his effort beyond Michael Woud, but the Auckland goalkeeper reacted well to make the save.
The New Zealand club responded five minutes later through Logan Rogerson, whose looping header forced Edouard Mendy into an important stop.
That chance was a reminder that Auckland had no intention of simply defending deep against one of Asia's leading clubs.
Al Ahli continued to enjoy the greater share of possession, but Auckland remained organised and difficult to break down.
Woud again came to his team's rescue before half-time when he pushed away a powerful effort from Eduard Spertsian, ensuring the sides went into the interval level.
Abu Al Shamat makes the difference
The breakthrough eventually arrived just after the hour mark.
Spertsian produced the decisive piece of creativity, surging down the left before cutting the ball back into the path of Abu Al Shamat.
The substitute arrived at the right moment and finished confidently to give Al Ahli the lead.
It proved enough.
Auckland attempted to respond in the closing stages, but their hopes of forcing extra time were badly damaged when Sam Cosgrove was shown a straight red card for a high challenge late in the match.
Al Ahli then managed the remaining minutes to secure their place in the next round.
Sundowns now stand in their way
The victory sets up an intriguing meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns, who enter the competition as African champions.
Sundowns' continental triumph has already established them as one of the strongest club sides in Africa, and their meeting with Al Ahli will provide another opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition from another confederation.
The clash will also offer a fascinating contrast in styles, with Sundowns known for their patient possession game and technical midfield control, while Al Ahli possess considerable attacking quality and homegrown as well as international experience.
The winner of the 19 September contest will claim the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup and move closer to the Intercontinental Cup final.
From there, the competition will continue through the FIFA Derby of the Americas and FIFA Challenger Cup stages before culminating in the final against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The centralised venue for the later stages of the tournament is yet to be confirmed.
For Sundowns, however, the immediate focus is now clear.
Their next global test will come against an Al Ahli side that showed in Jeddah that even when they are not at their most fluent, they possess enough quality to find a decisive moment and protect a narrow lead.