Ahly midfielder cites heat, fatigue for second-half struggles

Ahly midfielder Marwan Atteya said on Monday that fatigue and hot conditions have contributed to his team’s drop in performance during the second half of matches at the ongoing Club World Cup.

Ahram Online , Monday 23 Jun 2025,
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Marwan Attia
Al Ahly's Egyptian midfielder #13 Marwan Attia fights for the ball with Palmeiras' Uruguayan forward #17 Facundo Torres during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group A football match between Brazil's Palmeiras and Egypt's Al-Ahly at the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. AFP

 

The Egyptian champions impressed in the first half of their opening match against Inter Miami, creating several scoring chances but failing to convert.

They were largely outplayed in the second half, with goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy helping to secure a goalless draw.

A similar pattern followed in their second match against Brazil’s Palmeiras, where a solid first-half showing gave way to a 2-0 defeat after two second-half goals.

“I don’t have a specific answer, but in the first half we had the desire to score one or two goals, which didn’t happen,” Atteya told DAZN.

“There was some misfortune, although we were the better side in the first half against Inter Miami and Palmeiras.”

“The weather may have affected us, though that’s not an excuse,” he added.

“It could also be because we’re at the end of our season, unlike some teams who had a break and a proper preparation period for this tournament.”

The 26-year-old who is one of Ahly’s standout performers in the group stage, will miss Tuesday’s decisive match against FC Porto due to suspension.

“I’m very disappointed to miss this game, but I have full confidence in my teammates to perform well in this crucial clash,” he concluded.

Find more details on group standingsmatch schedules, and competition statistics.

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Group A W D L P
Palmeiras
1 2 0 5
Inter Miami
1 2 0 5
Porto
0 2 1 2
Ahly
0 2 1 2
Group B W D L P
Paris SG
2 0 1 6
Botafogo
2 0 1 6
Atletico Madrid
2 0 1 6
Seattle Sounders
0 0 3 0
Group C W D L P
Benfica
2 1 0 7
Bayern Munich
2 0 1 6
Boca Juniors
0 2 1 2
Auckland City FC
0 1 2 1
Group D W D L P
Flamengo
2 1 0 7
Chelsea
2 0 1 6
Esperance
1 0 2 3
Los Angeles FC
0 1 2 1
Group E W D L P
Inter Milan
2 1 0 7
CF Monterrey
1 2 0 5
River Plate
1 1 1 4
Urawa Reds
0 0 3 0
Group F W D L P
Dortmund
2 1 0 7
Fluminense
1 2 0 5
Mamelodi Sundowns
1 1 1 4
Ulsan HD
0 0 3 0
Group G W D L P
Manchester City
3 0 0 9
Juventus
2 0 1 6
Al-Ain
1 0 2 3
Wydad
0 0 3 0
Group H W D L P
Real Madrid
2 1 0 7
Al-Hilal
1 2 0 5
RB Salzburg
1 1 1 4
Pachuca
0 0 3 0