After 45 years, Benfica returned to Egypt, to be defeated again by Ahli. Ahmed Morsy reports In 1962, Benfica were the champions of Europe but succumbed to Egypt's Ahli 3-2 in a friendly in Cairo. Almost half a century later, and not much has changed. Benfica are no longer the champions of Europe and showed it when going down to Ahli 2-1 again in Cairo Stadium. This time Ahli was celebrating its 100th birthday. The game against Benfica capped the festivities which began in February. The win also managed to erase somewhat the memories of the humiliating 4-0 drubbing Barcelona inflicted upon Ahli in April as part of the Ahli birthday bash. In Sunday's encounter, Ahli skipper Shadi Mohamed put his team in the lead after scoring from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after Ahli's Angolan striker Flavio was brought down by the Brazilian defender Luisao. The early goal was enough for the African champions to keep possession for most of the first half. Owing to the injury of Ahli goalkeeper Essam El-Hadari, substitute Amir Abdel-Hamid was a stand-in and was called on to pull off two big saves. In the second half, Portuguese international Rui Costa, a former AC Milan player, placed a fine cross into Ahli's area, for Nuno Assis to volley from close range for the equaliser. Ten minutes later, substitute striker Osama Hosni Ahli's prolific goal scorer , capitalised on a glaring mistake from a defender who made a howler. The game was the debut of the summer signing duo of Moetaz Eno, Zamalek's former midfielder, and Reda El-Weeshi, of Al-Sekka Hadid, as well as the defender Rami Adel who had been on loan to the Arab Contractors. In addition, the Egyptian champions rested key players Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Shawki. Striker Emad Meteb missed the game after being suspended for insubordination. Benfica's international Nuno Gomes did not fly with the team because of injury. The match, which had few exciting moments and did not pull in the crowds like Barcelona, served as a warm-up for Ahli in their fourth group match with Tunisia's Esperance in the African Champions league on Saturday in Tunisia. Ahli are first in their Group B with nine points from three matches. Ahli, who are eyeing an unprecedented third successive triumph in the continent's most prestigious club competition, hammered Esperance 3-0 in Cairo Stadium two weeks ago in the first leg. The Cairo team are almost assured of a semi-final berth in the group. Behind Ahli is Hilal of Sudan with six points. Esperance and ASEC Abidjan of the Ivory Coast have one point apiece. The game with Benfica was also an opportunity for Ahli's Portuguese coach Manuel Jose to boost his image in front of a team from his own country. Jose has expressed a desire to one day coach Portugal, currently being run by Brazilian Felipe Scolari, winner of the 2002 World Cup. Ahli invited to Cairo one of the all-time greats, Benfica and Portuguese striker Eusebio who was sitting among the spectators. Eusebio, top goalgetter in the 1966 World Cup, played against Ahli in that 1962 classic. Low spectator turnout on Sunday was attributed to the inability to find tickets to the Barca game and the unwillingness of fans to go through the same experience twice. The price of tickets in the Benfica match was also double the normal rate. Benfica won the Portuguese domestic league 31 times and the cup 24 times. They came third in their domestic league last season. Their last title was the 2005/2006 Portuguese Super Cup. They were European champions in 1961 and 1962.
