Record nine-time African Champions Al Ahly beat Al Duhail of Qatar1-0 in their FIFA Club World Cup opener at Education City Stadium on Thursday.
The first shot of the game came courtesy of Mohamed Taher in the 10th minute but the forward fired his effort wide of the target.
Hamdi Fathi came close in the 18th minute with a shot from a distance but Salah Hassan managed to tip the striker’s effort over the bar.
Al Ahly went ahead with their first shot on target in the 30th when Hussein El Shahat fired past Moussa from the edge of the box with Walter Bwalya providing the assist.
The Red Devils thought they have doubled their lead eight minutes later when Bwalya found himself in a one on one situation with Al-Duhail goalkeeper Zakaria Salah and put it between his legs but the goal was ruled offside by Video assistant referee.
Al Duhal nearly leveled matters in the 44th minute but Michael Olunga headed over from six-yards out, after being picked out at the near post.
Al Ahly went into the halftime break with their one-goal lead, which was also largely down to Salah Hassan, who pulled off a couple key saves.
The second half proved to be a dull affair, despite Al Duhail chasing the game and the first and only clear-cut chance of the half arrived in 76th minute when Edmilson Junior’s effort sailed just over the crossbar.
Mohamed El Shenawy came to his side’s rescue in the 80th minute as he cleared a goal-bound header off the line.
The Quatrains continued to search for an equalizer in the closing minutes, however they could not bypass a resolute Al Ahly defence.
Al Ahly will play Bayern Munich on Monday for a place in the final which will be held on February 11.
The other semi-final on Sunday will be contested by newly-crowned South American champions Palmeiras and Mexican side Tigres.
Line ups:
Al Duhail: Salah Zakaria, Mohamed Moussa, Mehdi Benatia, Bassam Hisham (Mohamed Muntari 46), Ahmed Yasser (Ismail Mohamed 72), Karimi Ali (Luiz Junior 82), Karim Boudiaf, Dudu, Sultan Al Brake, Edmilson Junior, Michael Olunga (Almoez Ali 46)
Ahly: Mohamed El Shennawi – Mohamed Hani, Badr Benoun, Ayman Ashraf, Ali Maaloul – Amr El Sulaya, Hamdi Fathi (Aliou Dieng 56), Hussein El Shahat (Salah Mohsen 82), Mohamed “Afsha” Magdi, Taher Mohamed Taher (Akram Tawfik 70) – Walter Bwalya (Marwan Mohsen 70).
