Ahli beat Portuguese giants Benfica 2-1 in the Egyptian champions' centennial celebrations at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday. Ahli skipper Shadi Mohamed opened the scoring after just five minutes from the penalty spot, substitute Nuno Assis equalized for Benfica in the second half before substitute Osama Hosni notched in the winner for the home side. The Egyptian champions rested key duo Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Shawki, in addition to injured first-choice keeper Essam Al-Hadari and suspended striker Emad Meteb. However, the Ahli bench included summer signing duo Moetaz Eno and Reda Al-Weeshi for the first time. Action started as soon as the fourth minute, when Brazil center-half Luisao brought down Ahli's Angolan striker Flavio Amado inside the area and the referee awarded the penalty. Ahli spot kick specialist Shadi made no mistake to put the Red Devils ahead after five minutes.
Hosni scored again for Ahli The early goal gave the home side a morale boosting start, in an attempt to erase the bad memory of the last centennial match against Barcelona in April, which ended 4-0 for the Catalans. The highlight of the first half saw Ahli's deputy goalkeeper Amir Abdul-Hamid producing a couple of magnificent saves to deny the Portuguese side an equalizer. In the second half, Benfica introduced skipper Rui Costa, who made his mark nine minutes after his entrance. The former Milan playmaker placed a fine cross into Ahli's area, and Nuno Assis volleyed in from close range to level the score. However, ten minutes later Ahli striker Hosni proved to be the super sub as he restored Ahli's lead, capitalizing on a blatant mistake by Benfica's Alcides. Alcides' poor back pass was intercepted by Hosni, who rounded the keeper and slotted into the empty net. Ahli managed to come out as winners and make amends for their embarrassing defeat against Barca in the last centennial game.
