Ceramica were close to causing an upset by beating their illustrious opponents after substitute Bassem Morsi finished off a superb move with a powerful volley that nestled into the far corner with two minutes remaining.

Morsi's goal came shortly after Ahly, who were otherwise lethargic, wasted two clear-cut chances.

However, the Red Devils avoided what would have been a second defeat of the season 11 minutes into the additional time after playmaker Magdi Afsha tucked away a penalty that was awarded following a lengthy VAR review.

The referee adjudged Ceramica's Ahmed Mohsen to have committed a foul when he stuck out a leg to make contact with Ahly substitute Mohamed Mahmoud as he headed a cross into the hands of the keeper.

The draw would do little to appease the anger of Ahly's fans, especially as it comes just a week before the team host Algeria's ES Setif in the first leg of the African Champions League semi-final.

The Cairo giants slumped to their first defeat of the season when they lost 1-0 to Masry on 9 April before being held to a 0-0 draw by Talae El-Geish on Wednesday. It's the first time they endure a three-match winless run since late 2019.

They lie second in the table with 33 points, five behind leaders Zamalek, who played two games more. Ceramica are 13th with 18 points.

Injury problems

Ahly missed talented winger Ahmed Abdel-Kader and burly Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng, and their injury problems were compounded late in the first half when central defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, who was one of Egypt's stars in their run to the African Nations Cup final in February, was taken off.

Despite playing with a firm attacking line-up that featured only one central midfielder and five forwards, Ahly struggled for openings in a first half low on quality.

They only had a half chance four minutes before halftime when left-back Mahmoud Wahid, deputizing for key Tunisian full-back Ali Maaloul, blasted high over after being found unmarked in the area by a threaded pass.

At the other end, Ceramica playmaker Mohamed Ibrahim headed over the bar following a cross from the left.

Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane introduced Percy Tau, who was guilty of two glaring misses in the 0-0 draw with El-Geish on Wednesday, in the second half in a bid to beef up his attack and the South African almost scored with his first touch.

He was fed by a superb back-heel pass from Mohamed Sherif to fire an angled shot just wide.

Ahly then failed to trouble Ceramica until late in the game, when Mohamed Mahmoud mis-hit his shot when found totally unmarked by a low cross from the right and fellow substitute Hussein El-Shahat going very close with a shot on the turn after chesting a long ball from Afsha.

They were caught off guard as Morsi stunned them, ghosting behind Karim Fouad at the far post to meet a brilliant diagonal cross from Mohamed Ibrahim with a first-time left-foot volley that left keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi with no chance.

Afsha had the last word, although the draw was hardly satisfying for Ahly's demanding supporters.

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