Ahly striker Emad Meteb (Photo: Ahram)
Egyptian league holders Ahly returned to winning ways a few days before the anticipated Cairo derby, coming from behind to secure a morale-boosting 3-1 away win over Talae El-Geish at Cairo's Air Defense Stadium.
With Ahly clashing with leaders Zamalek on Thursday, they needed the victory to close the gap on their bitter rivals after drawing with Masry and Petrojet in their previous two matches.
The hosts took the lead through Said Kamal just one minute from the half-hour mark, but their celebrations were short-lived as Ahly went to the locker room with a 2-1 lead, thanks to goals from striker Emad Meteb and playmaker Abdallah El-Said.
Meteb came back shortly after the break to make it three when he converted a spot-kick after attacking midfielder Walid Soliman had been brought down inside the box.
Ahly, who are seeking to equal their own record of winning the league title nine straight times, remained fourth with 32 points, eight behind leaders Zamalek who played a game more.
Ahly overturn deficit
Despite being in control, Ahly had to wait till the 27th minute to pose real threat on goal, with striker Meteb seeing a headed effort denied by the bar before Mahmoud Hassan 'Trezeguet' failed to execute a bicycle kick on the rebound.
But it was the home side who managed to capitalize on their opponents' defensive frailties just two minutes later, when Saied Kamal was played through on goal before excellently dinking the ball past keeper Mosaad Awad.
Ahly did not need to wait long to draw level, with Meteb following up on Walid Soliman's strike, which bounced off the post into the striker's path, on 31 minutes.
The major highlight of the half, however, came five minutes before the break when attacking midfielder El-Said arrowed a magnificent free kick home to make it 2-1.
Ahly could have yet added another goal just before the end of the half when Talae El-Geish keeper Mohamed Fawzi parried a powerful Soliman free kick on the stroke of halftime.
Meteb completes double
Barely three minutes into the second period, the Cairo giants were awarded a penalty after Soliman was tugged from the shirt inside the box – with the referee not hesitating to point to the spot.
The veteran Meteb stepped up to take the spot kick, and indeed made no mistake to bag his personal brace of the day.
The match remained largely eventless afterwards, but Ahly keeper Mosaad Awad was called into action two minutes past the hour mark when he blocked ex-Ahly full-back Ahmed Shedid's free kick.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: