Egyptian champions Ahli made up for their African disappointment after grabbing a hard-fought 2-0 win over Masri in an entertaining league clash on Thursday. Mohamed Abou-treika opened the score line in the 33rd minute before Emad Meteb sealed the victory in the second-half stoppage time. The result moved Ahli, who were held to a 1-1 home draw by Tunisia's Sfaxien in the first-leg of the African Champions League final, to the third place of the league table with 17 points and two games in hand, three behind leaders Ismaili. Masri, on the other hand, left in 12th spot with just eight points. The Cairo giants restored balance after their disappointing show against Sfaxien prompted wide criticism of Manuel Jose's tactics. Ahli's first threat came in the 25th minute when Meteb chipped the ball inside the area to the onrushing Abou-Treika, whose first-timer went over the bar. Ahmed Shedid, who filled in the left-back position instead of injured Tarek Al-Saied, continued his impressive displays since the African final, providing dangerous crosses to Ahli's strikers. In the 33rd minute, he raced down the left flank and rounded Masri defender Osama Al-Sayed before sending a pinpoint cross to the unmarked Abou-Treika, who headed the ball into the back of the net.
Meteb (R) ensured the win Two minutes later, Egyptian international Abou-Treika capitalized on the weakness of Al-Sayed and sent another cross to Angolan Flavio but his backward header went just wide. Masri began the second-period with a more attacking approach, making early attempts to level the score and please the home fans. Three minutes after re-start, Mohamed Al-Etrawi fired a powerful free-kick that hit the bar. The Port Said club caused another scare four minutes later after striker Saied Rabie latched-on to Mohamed Muselhi's long pass before dazzling a shot from a tight angle but it was saved by Ahli keeper Essam Al-Hadari. Meteb should have doubled the lead for the visitors on the hour mark when he took advantage of a rebound with the goal at his mercy after Abou-Treika's initial shot was blocked by Masri keeper, but his shot went poorly wide. Rabie almost equalized in stoppage time when he received Mohamed Zekri's header with a close-range bicycle kick that skimmed the post. But Meteb ensured Ahli's win shortly after as he exchanged the ball with Mohamed Shawki before side-stepping the keeper and slotting into the empty net. Ahli ask for ENPPI delay
