Ahly players celebrate after Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory over Tanzania's Young Africans in the CAF Champions League group-stage third round on Friday. Photo: Ahly's official Facebook account.
Trezeguet broke the deadlock in first-half injury time before doubling the lead in the 75th minute to secure the three points for the Red Devils.
Ahly’s Danish coach Jess Thorup handed a debut to newly-signed striker Marwan Othman, while continuing to start goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir in the absence of first-choice shot-stopper Mohamed El-Shenawy.
The Cairo giants dominated possession from the opening whistle, but struggled to break down a well-organized Tanzanian defense for much of the first half.
Against the run of play, Young Africans looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
Shobeir was called into action on several occasions, producing a string of brilliant saves to deny the visitors from long range and quick counterattacks.
The breakthrough finally came three minutes into first-half injury time. Trezeguet, later named Man of the Match, rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from right-back Mohamed Hany, heading the ball into the bottom corner. The goal was his fifth of the campaign, moving him to the top of the competition’s scoring charts.
Young Africans were forced to abandon their compact defensive approach in the second half as they searched for an equalizer, leaving gaps that Ahly were quick to exploit.
In the 66th minute, Thorup introduced Slovenian forward Nejc Gradišar for Othman to add fresh energy to the frontline.
The pressure paid off 15 minutes before the final whistle when midfielder Emam Ashour set up Trezeguet with a fine pass. The winger made no mistake, firing a right-footed shot from the left side of the area into the net to make it 2-0.
Gradišar had a golden opportunity to add a third in the 78th minute, but his close-range strike drifted just wide of the post.
Shortly after, Thorup made a double substitution, bringing on Taher Mohamed Taher and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane for Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed and Ashour to see out the game.
Despite late heroics from Young Africans’ goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who kept the scoreline respectable, Ahly held on comfortably for the win.
The result leaves Ahly at the summit of the group with seven points, while Young Africans remain in second place with four, while Morocco’s FAR Rabat and Algeria’s JS Kabylie sit in third and fourth places, respectively, with one point each.
The Red Devils are set to travel to Tanzania for the return fixture against the same opponents on 31 January.
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