Ahli managed to boost their Champions League semi-final qualification chances after claiming a vital 2-1 home win over Congo's Leopards on Saturday. After the match was delayed for 25 minutes because of crowd trouble, Ahli took a first-half lead through Abdullah Al-Saied. Walid Soliman, who scored the only goal in Congo, netted a crucial second after the break in superb fashion before substitute Sidoine Beaullia pulled one back for Leopards with six minutes remaining. The African champions, who headed into the game in third place on four points, will now be strongly vying for a semi-final berth after moving to second on seven points. Missed chances, Ekrami save and Soliman beauty Ahli came on with all guns blazing, as the opening 12 minutes witnessed three certain chances for the hosts, including two strikes from Al-Saied and Mohamed Abou-Treika. Another chance saw U-20 Egypt midfielder Rami Rabiea miss narrowly with an ambitious long-range effort. But Ahli were rewarded when Al-Saied cut inside before unleashing a right-footed strike that took a wicked bounce, leaving the keeper with no chance. Leopards, however, were given a lifeline when Hossam Ashour tackled midfielder Ntela Kalema inside the box, only for defender Ulrich Nzamba to be denied by a superb save from Sherif Ekrami. Egypt winger Soliman made sure the Reds are back in business in Group A, placing a stunning curling effort from a static position at the far post on 68 minutes. Leopards refused to throw in the towel and substitute Beaullia ensured a nervous ending to the game when he capitalized on Ahli's poorly-positioned defense to find the net from inside the box.
