Ahly open Confed Cup campaign with narrow 2-1 win over Club Africain
Holders Ahly of Egypt kicked off their CAF Confederation Cup campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Tunisia’s Cub Africain in the first leg of the competition’s round of 16 on Sunday.
Despite missing some key players for injuries and suspensions, Ahly managed to come from behind and earn a valuable home win, thanks to goals from strikers Ahmed Abdel-Zaher and Emad Meteb. The second leg will be played in Tunisia on 7 June.
Ahly maintained their winning run under new coach Fathi Mabrouk, who took over following their elimination from the African Champions League round of 16 at the hands of Morocco’s Moghreb Tetouan.
A slow start by Ahly allowed Club Africain to create an early chance but the hosts quickly regained control, with Abdel-Zaher squandering a goal-scoring opportunity following a one-on-one situation.
Playmaker Abdallah El-Saied also broke clear after 29 minutes but his effort was cleared by a defender.
Club Africain’s keeper was also in inspired form, thwarting Ahly on several occasions
However, the visitors scored against the run of play after a defensive lapse 10 minutes before the break.
Striker Imed Minyeoui was found unmarked at the far post for an easy tap-in after a low cross eluded the defence and keeper Sherif Ekrami but Ahly managed to restore parity on the stroke of halftime.
Midfielder Mahmoud Trezeguet ran to the byline and pulled the ball back to Ahmed Abdel-Zaher who fired in off the bar.
Mabrouk introduced veteran striker Meteb, who replaced Abdel-Zaher, and Ethiopian striker Saladin Said to revitalize his attack and the substitutions paid off as Ahly mounted pressure.
Meteb repaid the faith of his coach in the 64th minute with a low shot from inside the area after his first effort struck a defender and left the keeper wrong-footed.
Ahly continued to press forward to extend their lead in the latter stages but Club Africain’s tight defence ensured the Tunisians would still have a good chance to advance when they host the Red Devils in the return leg.
Source: Ahram Online
