Title holders Ahli eased past Zimbabwe outfit Highlanders 2-0 at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday to book their place in the CAF Champions League round of 16. Two goals in each half proved enough for the hosts as skipper Shady Mohamed opened the score line before Angolan striker Flavio secured the win later in the game. Ahli, aiming for a record sixth Champions League triumph and a third successive title, advanced with a 2-0 aggregate score after the first-leg ended in a goalless stalemate. The Cairo giants will face Mamelodi Sundowns in a tough third round contest after the South African champions defeated Desportivo Maputo on Saturday. The Egyptian champions were boosted by the news that midfielder Mohamed Barakat was on the bench after a lengthy six-month absence with a knee injury. The hero of the night was definitely Highlanders goalkeeper Washington Arubi who produced a host of spectacular saves to prevent his side from an embarrassing defeat. Arubi was initially called into action as early as the fifth minute when he denied Osama Hosni's close-range header with a fine save.
Flavio scored the second for Ahli The breakthrough came through an unlikely source in the 14th minute when defender Mohamed connected with Islam Al-Shater's cross inside the area to hit a powerful low drive past the motionless Arubi. Ahli continued their ascendancy and Hosni was almost at the center of every opportunity as he was unfortunate to see his header bounce off the bar before being foiled twice by the lively Arubi who denied Emad Meteb as well with a superb save. The last action of the first-half saw another great save from Arubi, this time to deny Flavio's header from 4 yards just before the break. The one-way traffic display continued in the second- half and the lead was doubled at the hour mark when Hossam Ashour released the unmarked Flavio who had all the time in the world before beating the keeper with a fine chip. Ahli fans were jubilant to see their favorite Barakat enter the field in the 69th minute to replace Hosni who had a shot blocked yet again by Arubi just two minutes before his exit. Barakat came close to make a dream return to action when his 78th- minute set piece from the edge of the area was brilliantly blocked by the impressive Arubi. Nine minutes from time, Meteb avoided the attentions of his marker but his shot cannoned off the crossbar before being substituted four minutes later.
