Ahly slumped to their first defeat this season after losing 1-0 to Maqassa at Petrosport stadium on Thursday.
Maqassa defender Ahmed Sami scored the winner with a nice free kick in the 58th minute of the game.
Ahly aimed to maintain their winning start in the Egyptian league this season but they struggled against a defensive minded team that claimed their first ever win against Ahly.
Ahly's coach Jose Peseiro switched to a 4-4-2 formation introducing veteran striker Emad Meteb beside Ghanaian marksman John Antwi. The pair didn't make the anticipated impact as the veteran striker failed to make his presence felt.
The Red Devils started the game with a slow rhythm as the first chance came in the 38th minute when the Ghanaian striker received a nice pass from midfielder Abdallah El-Saied but his close-range shot was blocked by the Maqassa keeper who helped his side to end the first half with a goalless draw.
The second half was different for Ahly who intensified their attacks. Winger Moemen Zakareya was close to opening the scoring for his side but Maqassa’s keeper blocked his nice header in the 55th minute.
Three minutes later Moroccan forward Omar Najdi earned a free kick with it being converted successfully by Sami who scored the winner in time even though their opponent was superior in term of possession and chances.
Peseiro made a double substitution on the hour mark as Gabonese striker Malik Evouna and winger Walid Soliman replaced misfiring pair Meteb and Antwi.
The Red Devils created several clear-cut chances but failed at the final touch.
Their closest chance came when Evouna rounded the keeper but Sami cleared the ball from the goal line five minutes before time.
Ahly will be on a 40-day break now as his players will be away on international duty. It will give time to Peseiro to know his team better as he had just arrived three days before the start of the season.
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