Al Ahly of Egypt ran out 3-1 winners against Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad in the second round of the Club World Cup on Friday, after Urawa Reds progressed to the semi-finals.
Maaloul gave the CAF Champions League winners the lead on 21 minutes when he converted his spot-kick following a VAR intervention.
Al Ittihad’s star summer signing Benzema then saw his penalty saved by Mohamed El Shenawy on the stroke of half-time, as his team went into the break trailing 1-0.
The tie was effectively over after an hour when El Shahat curled in a second for Al Ahly on 59 minutes, followed by a third courtesy of Ashour three minutes later.
As the clocked ticked down to the final whistle, Anthony Modeste picked up a red card in the 90th minute.
This offered a lifeline to the Saudi side and two minutes into added time, Benzema atoned for his earlier saved penalty by thumping home a consolation goal for the local team.
The Egyptian champions will face Copa Libertadores victors Fluminense of Brazil in the first semi-final tie on Monday.
Earlier, a sole Alex Schalk goal gave Urawa Reds of Japan victory against Mexican opponents Leon, setting up a semi-final clash with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Second-half substitute Schalk struck with the clock running down in Jeddah to book the 2022 AFC Champions League winners’ place in the semi-finals with a 1-0 win.
A tight affair was settled in the 78th minute when the Dutchman found space in the Leon penalty box and managed to squeeze his right-footed shot past the advancing Rodolfo Cota, after being set up by Jose Kante.
Hopes of a comeback for the CONCACAF Champions League holders were extinguished when William Tesillo picked up a second booking six minutes from time and the 10 men could not find a way to break down Urawa Reds.
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