Pyramids players celebrates after winning the match against Ceramica. Al-Ahram.
Despite the win, Pyramids finished the Egyptian Premier League season as runners-up with 56 points, two behind champions Al Ahly, who routed Pharco FC 6-0 also on Wednesday.
The result offers encouragement for Pyramids ahead of Sunday’s decisive second leg against Sundowns at Cairo’s Air Defence Stadium.
The Egyptian side earned a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Pretoria and are bidding for their first-ever continental title.
The win could also prove significant in the domestic context, as Pyramids await a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding a dispute over the recent Cairo derby.
If CAS upholds their appeal and deducts three points from Ahly, Pyramids could yet be crowned league champions. A verdict is expected in the coming months.
With the Champions League final looming, coach Krunoslav Jurcic rotated his squad heavily, starting with six substitutes to rest key players.
Abdel-Rahman Magdi opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute, but Ceramica's Ahmed Belhadji equalized with a penalty of his own eight minutes later.
Marwan Hamdi quickly restored Pyramids’ lead before international fullback Mohamed Hamdi was sent off late in the first half, forcing the hosts to play the remainder with ten men.
Magdi struck again after the break, while substitute Youssef Ibrahim added a fourth in the 82nd minute.
Congolese striker Fiston Mayele capped the rout six minutes from time to seal a comprehensive win.
Pyramids will now turn their focus to continental glory as they seek to make history on home soil this weekend.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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