Mohamed Afsha hits posts in stoppage time as Al Ahly return to Caf Champions League with vital point at Al Hilal
Al Ahly return to Caf Champions League with a vital away point after sharing spoils with Sudanese side Al Hilal at the Al Hilal Stadium on Friday afternoon. The draw could be a sign of hard luck for the Egyptians which they should have ended the game with all three points away from home after second half substitute Mohamed Afsha striking the posts in stoppage time.
The African champions claimed bronze medal in the just ended FIFA Club World having beaten Saudi’s Al Hilal in the fight for a third place. That fixture saw Al Ahly’s first Caf Champions League Group A game against Al Merrikh last weekend postponed.
The Egyptian side’s hopes of defending their African crown started with a trip to Sudan facing Al Hilal Omdurman in a second fixture. Their today’s opponents Al Hilal made a second appearance of the group phase after losing narrowly to PSL side Mamelodi Sundowns in their first game in South Africa.
Al Hilal boss Daniel Giménez made a change to the side that lost to Sundowns with Yasir Mozamil Mohamed El Tayed coming in for Yusif Abdelrahman Yagoub in attacking right.
With a consistency of the starting eleven kept, Al Hilal dominated early proceedings pushing Al Ahly to their own half in first 18′ minutes. However, with little potency in attack, Al Ahly were dangerous within Al Hilal’s period of dominance.
The Sudanese side failed to create clear chances in the first 20′ minutes as Al Ahly’s defense, that had shown no sign of fear but rather maturity, simply kept Hilal’s attack at bay.
Al Ahly gradually warmed into the game with Aliou Dieng, Al-Sulaya and Hamdi Fathi emerging as the main men to overturn the game to Ahly’s side. The visitors controlled the game to around the 40′ minute mark.
Al Ahly only appeared playing the game for a draw after slowing down the intensity incurred by the home side. That was a smart move from the African champions to have slowed the game’s high pace- which would have given the hosts huge advantage due to the nature of the pitch, weather and energy issues.
Despite their relaxed approach, Al Ahly managed to open Al Hilal’s defense a couple of times but in unthreatening manner same as Al Hilal after the 40′ minute mark.
Al Hilal increased their performance in the last five minutes to first half with Yousif Yasir running the right channel. The 9 shirted man in moments went past difficult-to-over-come Ali Maaloul and entered the box but the perfect connection with center forward Ibrahim Mustapha was a problem. In Yasir’s many dangerous attacking efforts, that should have been utilized, were cleared by Ahly defense.
Nigerian midfielder Abdul Jeleel Ajagun and Gerald Phiri Jr. took over in Al Hilal’s search for the opener in last 5′ minutes of the first half.
Ajagun and Phiri Jr. combined nicely from their won half before a successful voyage through the middle saw the Nigerian combined another with Mustapha at the back of Ahly’s box but the return pass hit hand of Al Ahly defender for a foul.
Ajagun stepped behind and shot into the wall as the first half ended goalless draw. Al Hilal continued from where they left the first half piled pressure on Mosimane’s men right into the second half.
After Hilal maintaining possession, Yasir and Mustapha got chances to break the deadlock but Yasir’s effort went over the bar while Mustapha’s was blocked.
Ajagun who was the best player on the day danced his way through Al Ahly’s defense on the left edge but his intended pass across was grabbed by Ahly goalkeeper Ali Lofti.
Ajagun tormented Al Ahly players where ever he picked the ball and combined very well with Malawian ace Phiri Jr. all times.
The two were difficult to contain but Al Ahly should have went ahead midway after the best open chance fell to Ahmed Abdel Kader who received a long pass from midfield into the box but the Egyptian International struck one time with his weaker left foot that went far over the cross bar.
Al Ahly nullified Al Hilal in closing stage of the game to announce a side of maturity and plenty of experience in the African Champions League. In the last 5 minutes, they showed what they are predominantly known of, pushing Al Hilal into their own half.
They nearly return to Egypt with all three points in stoppage time after Mohamed Magdy Afsha striking the inside of the far posts in an unlucky manner.
It started from the middle as a pass found Ali Maaloul on the advanced left, the Tunisian International entered the box, slide a pass back to Afsha who beat Adil Aahmed Al hassan at the edge of the box; the Al Ahly forward curled to the far bottom corner that hit the right posts as Al Hilal escape conceding heart-breaking goal.
A moment later, Al Hilal won a free kick in final third after Ajagun was brought down in three-against-two counter attack. The Nigerian’s free kick hit the wall again before a resultant short at goal was largely blocked by Al Ahly defense inside the box as both teams failed to score after 90′ minutes.
The draw leaves Al Hilal a point after two games while African Champions Al Ahly pick a point in opening Group A game.
In the other fixture, Al Merrikh will host PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow in Egypt. The Sudanese outfit are playing home matches in Egypt due to Caf declining their home grounds venue Al Merrikh Stadium after failing to met Caf’s standard for the Caf Champions League.
