An outstanding performance from Mohamed Abou-Treika helped hosts Ahli to romp to a 4-0 win over Ghana's Asante Kotoko in the African Champions League on Saturday. Abou-Treika scored a goal and dished out two assists as the African champions hit the back of the net four times in just 19 minutes. The Egyptian international broke the deadlock in the ninth minute from the spot after Osama Hosni was clipped by the goalkeeper in the area. He then fed Mohamed Shawki and Hosni who both added the second and third goals in the 11th and 17th minutes respectively. Angolan striker Flavio stretched the score line just two minutes later with a close-range shot. The victory put Ahli in charge of Group A with seven points, three ahead of second-place Kotoko. Tunisian side Sfaxien will take on JS Kabylie later on Saturday in the second tie of the group. Ahli started the game on fire with Hosni missing the first chance in the sixth minute after he failed to convert a neat Flavio cross home.
Two minutes later, Abou-Treika released Hosni with a silky pass but the Ahli striker was brought down in the area. Abou-Treika stepped up to deliver an ice-cool penalty in the bottom corner of the net to give Ahli the lead. Shawki put Ahli two up shortly after when he connected to an inch-perfect cross from Abou-Treika to head home. The African champions capitalized on the visitors' poor form to apply more pressure and ended Kotoko's hope of any comeback with two more goals. Abou-Treika headed into the path of the darting Hosni who fired the third into the top corner. Hosni turned provider as his backheel pass found Flavio only to pin a first-timer past the helpless goalkeeper. Ahli looked satisfied with the big victory in the second-half during which they had only one chance in the 57th minute with Abou-Treika's half-volley hitting the woodwork. Mark Adu almost scored the consolation goal for Kotoko seven minutes from time when he rounded Wael Gomaa but fired against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
