Mexico’s Pachuca pulled off a remarkable comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt’s Al Ahly 4-2 on Saturday and advance to the semifinals of the Club World Cup.
Pachuca, representing Concacaf, were in trouble after an own goal and another by Flavio just before half time put the Egyptians in command.
The Mexican club clawed their way back with second-half goals from midfielder Luis Montes and Christian Gimenez before Argentine midfielder Damian Alverez sealed the victory eight minutes into extra time. Fellow Argentine Gimenez added a late insurance goal.
Pachuca will meet South American champions Liga de Quito of Ecuador on Wednesday in the semifinals.
Al Alhy took the lead against the run of play in the 28th minute when forward Mohamed Aboutrika broke down the left, cut into the box and his cross was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Pachuca defender Fausto Pinto.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the match, African champions Al Ahly went two goals up seconds before halftime after a swift counterattack down the left flank which drew the defenders out of position, presenting an easy tap in for unmarked Angolan striker Flavio.
Montes began the comeback in the 47th minute by curling a free kick past goalkeeper Amir Abdelhamid, a feat repeated by Gimenez in the 73rd minute to force extra time.
Alvarez scored the third in extra time, as he charged down an attempted clearance and after the ball spilled loose from a subsequent challenge, he knocked it into the net.
Gimenez capped the comeback in the second half of extra time with a powerful blast.
The tournament’s next quarterfinal pits Japan’s Gamba Osaka and Australia’s Adelaide United on Sunday in a rematch of the Asian Champions League Final.
Adelaide, who defeated New Zealand’s Waitakere 2-1 in the opening match, is looking for revenge after being blanked 5-0 on aggregate by Gamba in the continental championship. The winner of their match will meet European champions Manchester United in the semifinals. – Sapa-AP