UAE powerhouse Al Ain has secured a showdown with Egypt's Al Ahli in the Fifa African-Asian-Pacific Cup following a commanding 6-2 victory over Auckland City on Sunday. The match took place at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium during the Fifa Intercontinental Cup African-Asian-Pacific Cup playoff, where Al Ain demonstrated their superior strength against the Kiwi side.
This impressive win has paved the way for Al Ain to face Al Ahli in Cairo on October 29. The winners of this encounter will progress to the final stage of the tournament, which consists of three matches and will be held in Qatar in December.
Al Ain started the game with a dominant display, taking the lead within six minutes thanks to Fabio Cardoso, who headed home Khalid Al Baloushi’s cross. Sekou Gassama doubled their advantage in the 11th minute with a precise low shot past Auckland City's keeper Conor Tracey. Auckland City managed to reduce the deficit in the 43rd minute through Jason Lagos’s superb corner, but Al Ain quickly restored their two-goal lead with Matias Palacios scoring a delicate chip.
Despite Auckland City's efforts to claw back, Al Ain maintained control, with further goals from Felipe Salomoni, Soufiane Rahimi, Kaku Romero, and another from Rahimi in added time sealing the emphatic victory. The tournament format will see the Fifa Derby of the Americas, featuring Pachuca and the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2024 champions, confirmed on November 30, meeting on December 11. The winners of the Fifa African-Asian-Pacific Cup and the Fifa Derby of the Americas will then compete for the Fifa Challenger Cup in Qatar on December 14. The victors of the Fifa Challenger Cup will advance to the Fifa Intercontinental Cup against Uefa Champions League winners Real Madrid.
