Heartbreak for "Al Ahly": 6-5 Penalty Loss to "Pachuca"

"Al Ahly" faced a dramatic 6-5 penalty defeat against "Pachuca," ending their playoff run to the final.

"Al Ahly's" aspirations of reaching the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final were dashed following a heartbreaking 6-5 penalty shootout loss to "Pachuca" in Doha on Saturday night.

The Egyptian team showed resilience through a goalless 120 minutes but fell short in the decisive shootout. Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy delivered an outstanding performance, saving critical shots from Oussama Idrissi and Nelson Deossa during regular time.

In extra time, Percy Tau set up Mahmoud Kahraba for the game's best opportunity, but "Pachuca's" goalkeeper Carlos Moreno made a brilliant stop. The penalty shootout was a rollercoaster with "Pachuca" missing their first two attempts. However, Moreno's save in sudden death and two missed penalties by "Al Ahly" secured the Mexican side's spot in the final against "Real Madrid."

Despite the defeat, "Al Ahly" can hold their heads high after a strong display in the tournament and will now turn their attention to domestic and continental competitions.