Egyptian Premier League defending champions Al Ahly on Friday bagged their first title of the season after being crowned Egypt Super Cup champions following their 3-2 win over arch-rivals Zamalek in an entertaining match played at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium.
The Red Devils started and remained dominant throughout the first quarter of the first half winning all midfield balls with Hussein El-Shahat, Ramadan Sobhi and Junior Ajayi dictating the tempo in the central pack.
Rein Weiler’s charges broke the deadlock in the 19th minute from a corner taken by Ali Maaloul that easily found Nigerian import Junior Ajayi who rifled home into the near post with a powerful shot.
Mohamed Abdel-Shafi should’ve netted an equalizer five minutes later, but the full-back directed Ferjanni Ssasi’s square ball next to the post.
Mohamed Awad acrobatically parried out Sobhi’s left foot in swinger that seemed destined for the top left corner. The former Ismaily shot-stopper then punched out El-Shahat’s flick for a fruitless corner.
Just a minute to the break the Red Devils extended their lead after a defensive error by the White Knights.
Mohamed Abel-Shafy failed to clear the ball which landed on El-Shahat, who smashed the ball home from a close range.
The Red Devils were forceful coming out from the break and they grabbed the lead three minutes in courtesy of Ajayi, who benefited from Shikabala error on the right before swivelling between two defenders, beating the keeper with a low shot.
Al Ahly seemed happy to sit back after their third goal, while Zamalek pushed forward in numbers.
The White Knights relentless pressure paid off when they were awarded a penalty kick after Mostafa Mohamed was brought down inside the box by Mohamed El-Shennawy.
Mahmoud Alaa stepped up to the spot, making no mistake as he cleverly from the spot to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
Al Ahly came within centimetres of netting their fourth goal, when Tarek Hamed tried to clear the ball on the edge of his own box, but saw his clearance rebound of Hamdi Fathi and head towards goal.
Awad was out of position, and could only watch as the ball hit the crossbar.
Zamalek were awarded another penalty kick in the 73rd minute after Hamdi Fathi challenge on Achraf Bencharki and Alaa once again sent the ball into the same bottom corner to give Zamalek a lifeline.
Mahmoud Hamdi nearly snatched a late equaliser deep in stoppage time for the White Knights but his strike was parried away by Mohamed El-Shennawi as Al Ahly held on in the end to clinch a 3-2 win.
