Percy Tau could be involved in his eighth career match at the FIFA Club World Cup on Monday night when Egyptian side Al Ahly take on Brazilian outfit Fluminense in this year’s semifinals.
His seven previous appearances are the most by a South African as he now looks for the win that would set up a likely meeting with Manchester City in the final, if the latter see off Japanese outfit Urawa Reds on Tuesday.
We look back at his seven previous matches in the competition.
2016 – MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 0-2 KASHIMA ANTLERS
Minutes played: 90
His debut at the Club World Cup came with Sundowns in 2016 and he played the full game as they were comfortably beaten by Japanese side Kashima Antlers in the quarterfinals. Sundowns were never really in the game, which was controlled perfectly by the Japanese. The step up from African to Asian opponents was huge.
2016 – JEONBRUK MOTORA 4-1 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Minutes played: 90
Tau scored a superb goal which took him to global attention, but it was another chastening experience for The Brazilians ads they were easily second best against the South Korean opponents. Tau’s goal was the one bright spark of their maiden, and to date only, campaign.
2022 – AL AHLY 3-0 AUCKLAND CITY
Minutes played: 15
Tau scored his second goal at the Club World Cup when he netted the third for Egyptian giants Al Ahly in this comprehensive win. He had come on as a substitute with 15 minutes to go and made his mark. This was a first round clash.
2022 – SEATTLE SOUNDERS 0-1 AL AHLY
Minutes played: 90
Tau started this game against the Major League Soccer outfit and was only replaced deep into injury-time at the end of the game. It was a tough encounter that the Egyptians edged thanks to Mohamed Magdi Kafsha’s late strike.
2022 – AL AHLY 1-4 REAL MADRID
Minutes played: 29
Tau came on just past the hour-mark in arguably his biggest game of his career yet in this semifinal clash, though by then Real Madrid already held a 2-0 lead. They did get back into it with a penalty just after his introduction, but two goals in injury-time at the end of the game gave the scoreline a more emphatic look for the Spanish giants.
2022 – AL AHLY 2-4 FLAMENGO
Minutes played: 90
Tau played the full 90 minutes in this bronze-medal match in which Ahly led 2-1 (and had missed a penalty to make it 3-1) going into the final 13 minutes. They capitulated however and the Brazilian side were able to take third place. Ahly were not helped by a 69th minute red card for Khaled Abdel Fattah.
2023 – AL AHLY 3-1 AL ITTIHAD
Minutes played: 86
Tau started this second round clash in this year’s competition and was perhaps not as influential as he might have liked against some top opponents like Karim Benzema, Fabinho and N’Golo Kante. He came off after 86 minutes but his replacement, Frenchman Anthony Modeste, received a red card four minutes later! This was a superb win for Ahly as a team.
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