Playmaker Abdallah El-Said scored twice and created a goal in the second half as Ahly dispelled talk of a mini-crisis after crushing Petrojet 3-0 on Friday, keeping pressure on Egyptian Premier League leaders Ismaily. The Red Devils could not break down Petrojet in a goalless first half but came on with all guns blazing in the second, with Egyptian international El-Said in inspired form. He set up winger Walid Soliman for the opener just past the hour mark, finished off a superb counter attack that he started in his own half to double the lead and converted a late penalty to give Ahly a convincing win after a lackluster first-half show. The win will alleviate pressure on coach Hossam El-Badry, who led Ahly to the domestic double last season, after some poor results saw the team claim only one win in their previous four matches. In a rare move, the club released a statement on Wednesday saying they believe El-Badry was still the right man to lead the mighty Cairo side. Second-placed Ahly, who have 33 points from 14 matches, closed to within four points of leaders Ismaily who played 16 matches. Struggling Petrojet are 12th on 17 points. Just like the previous 1-1 draw against Wadi Degla, Ahly struggled for creativity in the final third, often failing to slice open the defence. Their efforts included a long-range bouncing shot from new arrival Phakamani Mahlambi, who made a rare start, that went just wide and a cross-cum-shot from right-back Ahmed Fathi that was tipped over by keeper Amr Hossam. Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the first half but Ahly were denied what looked a legitimate goal when South African winger Mahlambi broke clear and fired home, only for the assistant referee to raise his offside flag, deeming Moroccan striker Walid Azaro to have infringed although television replays suggested otherwise. Petrojet moved the ball around smoothly when they had possession and had a chance of their own on 29 minutes when Karim Tarek was picked out unmarked at the far post following a right-wing cross, only to miscue his header. Soliman almost broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when he raced clear following a threaded pass but his effort narrowly missed the target. He made amends three minutes later, meeting a lay-off from El-Said with a superb side-footed shot from just inside the area which went into the bottom corner past the motionless keeper. Ahly made it 2-0 in the 77th minute as Petrojet's flimsy defence could not cope with a swift break that saw Soliman feed substitute Islam Mohareb with an astute pass before the former Smouha man rolled the ball into the path of El-Said to fire home under Amr Hossam's body. El-Said completed the rout four minutes later, converting a penalty awarded after Azaro was tripped by Hossam who was beaten in a one-on-one. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
