- Ahly have won their first match of Group A
- The win takes them to second spot on four points
- El Merreikh have one win
Amr El Solia’s shot that deflected off Mustafa Karshom 14 minutes to time saw CAF Champions League defending champions Al Ahly beat Sudan’s El Merreikh 3-2 in Cairo on Sunday to pick their first Group A victory.
The game was rescheduled as Ahly were away in FIFA Club World Cup duties on match day one. They had started their campaign with a draw against Al Hilal in Sudan before losing 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend.
They had seemed to be flying with an early 2-0 lead but Merreikh fought to draw 2-2, but Ahly were luckier, getting the win late on.
The victory took the defending champions above Merrikh to second in Group A with four points, three behind leaders Sundowns.
“Topping the group does not mean that you have won the title. We have won the title twice and we finished second both years, but I certainly like to win the group,” said Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane before adding that he was pleased with the win, no matter how difficult it was.
Ahly players celebrate one of the goals
Ahly went to the break with a 2-1 cushion, but should have had more goals on the balance of chances they created.
Sheriff broke the deadlock after just two minutes when he struck a low shot into the bottom left corner of the Merrikh goalie off a tight angle after being put through by a sublime Percy Tau ball.
The home side were off to a dominating start and were duly gifted. Sheriff had a chance for a second in the 20th minute when he ran on to the path of a Mohamed Hany through ball, but couldn’t give the ball a vital touch inside the six yard box.
On the other end, Merrikh had their first attempt at goal when Saadeldin Elsamani picked out Emad Eldin Salah but he curled a shot just wide at the edge of the box.
Ahly were not rattled and in the 34th minute, they made it 2-0 when Sheriff completed his brace with a first time left footed shot inside the box off a Mohamed Abdelkader pass.
Six minutes later, Sheriff almost grabbed a first half hattrick but his swinging volley from an Ali Maaloul cross was brilliantly saved by Merrikh keeper Monged Elneel.
Mohamed Sherif celebrates scoring his brace
Just two minutes after the missed chance, Merrikh gave themselves a huge lift when they halved the deficit, Nigerian import Tony Oyamarue finding the back of the net with a tap in off a Ramadan Agab pass from the right.
In the second half, Ahly were still on the front foot and came close in the 62nd minute when Ali Maaloul picked out Mohamed Magdy Afsha, but the latter’s well weighted shot missed the target by a whisker.
Seven minutes later, Ahly were stunned when Merrikh equalized. Saadeldin controlled the ball inside the box from an Emad Ali pretty assist before slamming the ball home.
The goal gave Merrikh belief that they could turn the tide in their favor, but were pegged back in the 76th minute when Karshom scored into his own net as he tried to cut out a shot from an Amr El Solia shot after exchanging passes with Afsha.
The home side held on to the slim advantage to affirm the three points.
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