Defending Champions of the Egyptian Premier League (EPL) Al Ahly regained their 17-point lead at the top of the table after their 2-0 victory over Hara El-Hodoud to move a step closer to retaining their league title.
Al Ahly now have 68 points from 25 games played, ahead of Zamalek in second place with 51 points. Al Ahly now need only eight points in the next nine games to win their 42nd league title.
Two late second half goals from substitutes Walid Soliman in the 85th minute and Mohamed “Afsha” Magdi in the 96th minute sealed the victory and three points for the Red Devils.
With so many injuries in the Al Ahly camp, their Swiss coach Rene Weiler maintained his 4-4-2 formation for the third straight game, but that proved to be ineffective as the Red Devils were kept at bay in the first half.
Striker Aliou Badji was the only threat for Al Ahly in the first 45 minutes of the game as he sent a low cross to teammate Marwan Mohsen who sent the ball to the side net.
In the second half, Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawi denied Abdel-Latif Grindo a clear goal scoring chance, while at the other end El-Hodoud’s goalkeeper Ahmed El-Saadani at point blank range stopped a poor shot from Badji.
Weiler made substitutions, bringing in wingers Walid Soliman and Junior Ajayi, and playmaker Mohamed “Afsha” Magdi and switched his formation to his usual 4-2-3-1.
Al Ahly took the lead when substitute Soliman provided a moment of individual brilliance as he combined with Nigerian winger Junior Ajayi to volley the ball into the top corner of the net.
El-Hodoud piled pressure on Al Ahly in the closing minutes of the game, but it was the Red Devils that will extend their lead as Ajayi broke the offside trap to send a cross to Afsha who was unmarked in the area to volley the second into the roof of the net and guarantee another Al Ahly victory.
