Palmeiras Secure First Club World Cup Win Over Al Ahly Amid Weather Disruption

Palmeiras secured a 2-0 victory over Al Ahly at the Club World Cup in a match disrupted by a 50-minute weather delay despite sunny conditions, moving them to the top of Group A and improving their chances to advance. The Brazilian team's performance was affected by the midday heat and weather interruption, with coach Abel Ferreira noting a lack of initial dynamism but praising the second-half adjustments that led to their win. The goals came from an own goal by Al Ahly's Achraf Dari and a composed finish by Palmeiras' Jose Lopez, while standout player Estêvão was praised internationally for his skillful play and was named Man of the Match. Al Ahly had early dominance but fatigue and the weather break impaired their performance, according to their coach Jose Riveiro. The match featured a contentious red card decision on Palmeiras' Rafael Veiga that was overturned by VAR, highlighting the game's intensity and referee involvement. Palmeiras will next face Inter Miami, while Al Ahly will play against Porto, advancing the tournament's group stage competition.