Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi, played out a goalless draw against Al Ahly in their Club World Cup opener on Sunday (June 15), despite dominating large portions of the match.
The result saw Miami drop points in their first fixture, with two of Messi's shots hitting the woodwork and efforts from Fafa Picault and Maxi Falcón also failing to find the net, compounded by an early penalty save by Argentine goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
The Club World Cup's opening match ended in a stalemate, with neither Al Ahly nor Miami able to break the deadlock.
The first half saw Egyptian club Al Ahly asserting their dominance, while Inter Miami took control in the second. The hard-fought contest ultimately concluded with both teams sharing the points.
Al Ahly had an early chance to take the lead, but goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made two consecutive saves to keep Miami in the game.
In the 32nd minute, the experienced Argentine goalkeeper once again came to his team's rescue with a brilliant save from a free header.
Towards the end of the first half, Al Ahly had a golden opportunity to go ahead after winning a penalty from a foul on Telasco Segovia, but the Egyptian club failed to convert, with Ustari once again acting as the savior.
Inter Miami seized control of the match in the second half, with Messi leading their increasingly sharp attacks. Midway through the second half, Messi's curling free-kick grazed the bar and went wide.
Miami created several more chances to score, but Mohamed El Shenawy kept Al Ahly in the game by parrying away Fafa Picault's header.
The Al Ahly goalkeeper also made several excellent saves in injury time.
El Shenawy notably thwarted efforts from Messi, followed by Maxi Falcón and Luis Suárez, from successive corners. As a result, both teams had to settle for a goalless draw.
Messi and his team's next Club World Cup match will be against Porto on June 19. Their other opponent in Group A is Palmeiras.
