African champions Ahli cruised into a 2-0 victory over Hilal of Sudan in the opening game of the group phase of the CAF Champions League. Two second half substitutes sealed the win, as the breakthrough came with a wonder strike from Angolan striker Flavio Amado five minutes from time, and Osama Hosni added the second two minutes into stoppage time. The win gives Ahli the summit of Group B with 3 points, while Hilal are pointless at the bottom. The visitors looked very defiant at the back, as they placed over seven players in defense, and Ahli struggled to penetrate the cagey backline, making no real danger on Hilal goalkeeper Al-Moez Mahgoub. On the other hand, the Sudanese team focused on long-range shots, but their off-target attempts rarely tested Ahli keeper Essam Al-Hadari. At the dying seconds of the first half, the referee was lenient for not to sending off Ahli striker Emad Meteb after a rash off-the-ball challenge on Richard Justin, following a harsh two-footed tackle by the former Ismaili defender to win the ball.
Hosni added the second A dull first half came to an end, and the second half produced no more excitement, as the Sudanese team was clearly targeting a goalless draw. Ahli fielded in Flavio shortly into the second half followed by Hosni at the place of Ahmed Shedid and Meteb respectively, but the Egyptian champions' strike forces Mohamed Abou-Treika and Mohamed Barakat seemed to be out of form. Coach Manuel Jose took off Abou-Treika ten minutes from time, in favor of Ahmed Sedik, who proved to be a successful sub later on. In the 85th minute, Egyptian league top scorer Flavio followed a long-ball by Hosni between two defenders, and the Angolan won the ball with the suspicion of a foul on the Hilal defender. Flavio dribbled past the last defender, before producing a terrific lob from 12 yards, to break the deadlock. Hilal committed men forward as the game reached a nervous ending, and the referee once again saved the red card, after a kick from Ahli defender Wael Gomaa to Hilal's Alaa Al-Din Jebril, and a clear punch from the Sudanese in return. However, Ahli managed to add a second by substitute Hosni, who headed in a close range header after excellent work from Sedik on the left flank.
