Cairo erupted with ecstasy when Flavio Amado scored twice during Ahli's 3-1 victory over Asyut Petroleum in the Egyptian league after the club fans almost lost hope that the Angolan may one day end his domestic goal-drought. "Flaviooo, at last, at last, he scored," screamed the commentator of the Egyptian national television in disbelief when the international striker headed his first goal for Ahli in a whole year. Flavio then repeated the feat with a superb dink that left his marker laughing in irony rather than feeling sad about conceding another goal. Ahli fans are hopeful that the stunning double will help Flavio lay his domestic ghosts to rest and pave the way for more success with the African champions. "Flavio is a good player, yet he is very unlucky in front of the net," 52-year-old taxi driver Amin Al-Qadi told FilGoal.com. "But with this performance, I believe he will find his good form, which we saw with the Angolan national team," he said one day after the match when Egyptians were talking about Flavio's brace as much as the tragedy of the train accident that claimed 58 lives. The pressure on Flavio's shoulders was huge since joining Ahli from Angolan giants Petro Atletico in the summer of 2005 for a fee of $480,000. Egyptians were still impressed by his 2001 performance when he scored in a 4-2 drubbing of Ahli in the African Champions League. Disappointing Start Looking aggressive and energetic, Flavio was given a hero's reception in his first training session with Ahli but the enthusiasm faded gradually with his repeated failure to finish off easy chances. He found the net just once during the first half of the season with an opportunist header against Ghazl Mahalla in match-day three of the Egyptian League. In January, with the local league halted as Egypt hosted the African Cup of Nations, Flavio topped Angola's squad for the prestigious tournament.
Flavio celebrates his World Cup goal Surprisingly, he was Angola's highlight of the tournament, scoring three times in the similar number of appearances despite his side's first-round exit. After the competition, anxious supporters hoped Flavio's classy continental displays could reflect on his domestic campaign, but it seemed that he forgot his scoring boots at home. He failed to break the ciphers of the Egyptian League for the rest of the season, prompting widespread anger between the fans. Sections of the crowd were demanding his head during the training sessions to the extent that coach Manuel Jose decided to train behind closed doors. "I just need to register a few goals or even one against (Ahli's arch-rivals) Zamalek to mend the rift with fans," Flavio told FilGoal.com in an interview then. Psychological Effect But his next accomplishment was much more important than a goal in the Cairo derby. The 26-year-old became the first Angolan player ever to score a goal in the World Cup finals when he headed home against Iran in his country's last game in Germany 2006. Speaking after the game, Flavio was grateful to someone rarely mentioned in such press briefings. "I want to thank the team's psychologist," he told reporters. "He supported me a lot during the recent crisis till I managed to find the net again." Now, with his recent and first double in the league, he had others to thank. "I dedicate this to all the fans, the ones who stood by me and the ones who were angry over my performance. I wish this will be a new start for me with Ahli," he said.
