Ahli maintained their supremacy over arch-rivals Zamalek after claiming a 2-1 victory over the Whites in the Champions League group stage opener on Sunday. Angolan striker Flavio Amado gave Ahli a first-half lead but Gamal Hamza scored his sixth goal in the Cairo derbies to grab the equalizer two minutes past the hour mark. Ahmed Hassan, who joined Ahli from Anderlecht in the close season, gave Ahli the full three points five minutes later in his first game with the Red Devils. Ahli have secured their third successive win over their Cairo rivals. It is the team's 12th victory over Zamalek in 14 matches. Ahli now share Group A lead with Zimbabwe's Dynamos on three points. Zamalek and ASEC Mimosas are pointless. Cautious Half Both sides were too cautious in the opening stages of the match, deploying a tough defensive display. Chances were few and far between in the first period. Zamalek's only opportunity came after five minutes when Mohamed Abdullah darted down the right flank before providing a low cross to Mohamed Aboul-Ella. Aboul-Ella cut ahead of his marker, Wael Gomaa, but his effort missed the target. Zamalek's newly-signed midfielder Ayman Abdul-Aziz was the liveliest player on the pitch. He closed down spaces and halted many attacking attempts from Ahli. However, a blunder from Abdullah gifted Ahli the lead.
Abdullah looked as though he would comfortably clear the danger from the right hand side of the pitch. But his dreadful mishit pass found Ahli's winger Gilberto, who whipped in a cross at the far post which evaded Mahmoud Fathallah and went to Flavio. The former Petro Atletico man converted the ball with a right-footed shot past Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed. Balanced Period Zamalek dominated possession early in the second half, but they weren't helped by too many mis-placed passes. Aboul-Ella and Ahmed Abdul-Raouf failed to assist Abdul-Aziz in the middle of the pitch. Zamalek obviously needed a natural playmaker as Junior Agogo and Hamza were isolated upfront. Nevertheless, the men in white managed to level the score through Hamza in the 62nd minute. The talented forward's right-footed shot from the edge of the area deflected off Gomaa's foot and found its way past Ahli keeper Amir Abdul-Hamid. Zamalek's joy did not last for long as Hassan restored Ahli's advantage in the 67th minute. The Egypt skipper's fierce drive after a touched-on free-kick went through the shaky wall and into the bottom corner of the net. Zamalek then pushed forward seeking to re-equalize while Ahli sat back to defend their lead. Ahmed Magdi's powerful drive eight minutes from time hit the side-netting. Ahli held onto their advantage to claim a usual win over Zamalek.
