Al Ahly have lifted the Egyptian Super Cup after beating league champions Zamalek 2-0 at the Al-Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Adu Dhabi on Friday night.
This was Al Ahly 12th Super Cup trophy and they retain it after losing it last term in stunning shootout loss to Talae El-Geish before finishing third in the Egyptian Premier League.
Bruno Savio and Karim Foaud scored in each half to earn the Red Devils an important win against their Cairo archrivals.
Most of the ball was played in the middle of the park as the two teams battled for control of the midfield. There were no clear chances being created with shots being taken at goal flying over the crossbar or going wide of the target without seriously testing Zamalek goalkeeper Ahmed Awad and his counterpart Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Al Ahly found the opener on the 40th minute courtesy of Brazilian forward Bruno Savio who intercepted a poor back pass from Zamalek’s Zakaria El Wardi before curling a delightful shot into the far corner.
Zamalek midfielder Ahmed Fattouh was causing havoc for the Red Devils defence as he combined well with Seifeddine Jaziri who then hit the woodwork as Al Ahly survived a scare.
The Red Devils tried to extend their lead with the half-time break approaching, but they struggled to create clear cut chances.
The score was 1-0 to the record African champions at half-time following a one-sided first-half.
Zamalek played on the counterattack after the restart with Ahmed Zizo making dangerous forward runs. The 2-year-old striker made a brilliant solo run outpacing his marker, but he was let down by his poor finishing – firing wide of the target from a one-on-one situation with El-Shenawy.
More threats from the White Knights followed, with Mohamed Ashraf going on a mazy run only to be stopped, while Mohamed Awad smothered a free-kick by Ali Maloul at the other end.
Awad was called into action by Taher Mohamed’s goal-bound effort and he made a decent save, before making another good save from Shady Hussein’s effort.
Zamalek applied some pressure on Al Ahly in the latter stages of the game, but Ashraf and Zizo could not seriously test El Shenawy in the Red Devils goal with their defence looking solid.
Al Ahly were able to score their second goal in the closing minutes of the match through substitute Karim Fouad who connected a low cross from Malooul before sending the ball into an empty net at the far post.
How they lined up:
Ahly: Mohamed El-Shennawi – Akram Tawfik, Mahmoud Metwalli, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Ali Maaloul – Hamdi Fathi, Amr El-Soulaya – Taher Mohamed Taher, Bruno Savio, Ahmed Abdel-Kader, Shady Hussein
Zamalek: Mohmed Awad – Omar Gaber, Hamza Mathlouthi, Mohamed Abdel-Ghani, Hossam Abdel-Maguid, Ahmed Fattouh – Mohamed Ashraf, Zakaria El-Wardi, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Zizo, Seifeddine Jaziri
