Ahly defeat Aswan 3-1 to close in on leaders Zamalek
Ahram online , Thursday 29 Jul 2021
The defending champions are now second in the league table with 58 points, three off leaders Zamalek who played one match more


Ahly claimed an important 3-1 win over Aswan in a rescheduled league game on Thursday as the Red Devils narrowed the gap with leaders Zamalek to three points.

The defending champions are now second in the league table with 58 points, three off leaders Zamalek who played one match more.

It seemed an easy matter for Ahly who earned a 2-0 lead until the 86th minute, only to concede a goal four minutes from time that made the game nervy but substitute striker Walter Bwalya put the game beyond doubt with a stoppage time goal.

Mahmoud "Kahraba" Abdel-Moneim opened the scoring for Ahly in the 22nd minute, while Mohamed Sherif added the second in the 66th minute, to move on top of the scorers' chart with 16 goals so far this season.

Emmanuel Egitor made it 2-1 for Aswan with four minutes remaining but Walter Bwalya scored the third, seconds before the final whistle.

Ahly had a slow start, in what's becoming a habbit now, allowing Aswan to threaten Ahly's keeper Aly Lotfi on two occasions.

Kahraba met a precise long pass from Hussein El-Shahat with a nice volley into the back of the net in the 22nd minute.

After the goal Ahly controlled the game as they seemed satisfy with their lead.

Ahly doubled their lead at the hour mark when Mohamed Sherif volleyed the second after meeting a pinpoint cross from Ali Maaloul at the far post making amends for his one-on-one miss a minute earlier.

Enjoying a comfortable lead, coach Pitso Mosimane replaced his important trio Mohamed Magdi, Mohamed Sherif and Ali Maaloul to rest them.

Egitor's goal in the 86th minute following a poor clearance from Ahly defender brought the game back into contention.

Mohamed Ossama could have scored the equaliser but his solo attempt was denied by a heroic save Lotfi in stoppage time.

Then Bwalya killed the game with a third goal after receiving a nice pass from El-Shahat to ease-past the keeper before scoring in an empty net.

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