Ahli did not really suffer from the absence of influential duo Mohamed Abou-Treika and Mohamed Barakat as veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan inspired them to a 4-2 victory over Gaish. The Red Devils had to do without playmaker Abou-Treika and versatile midfielder Barakat due to injury. Both players usually support a lone striker in Liberian Francis Doe but coach Hossam Al-Badri had to change that system against Gaish in Friday's Egyptian Premier League encounter. Hani Al-Egeizi played alongside Doe upfront and Egypt skipper Hassan was assigned to feed them. The 34-year-old obviously rose to the occasion. "The absence of Barakat and Abou-Treika meant a different role for me," he told Modern Sport following the match. "I had to create goal-scoring opportunities," the former Anderlecht man, who joined Ahli after his contract with the Belgian giants expired in the summer of 2008, added. Hassan dished out two assists to Doe and holding midfielder Moataz Eno. The latter move was particularly impressive. He chested down a long ball from Doe and neatly turned to lay off the ball to the onrushing Eno, who poked home to score Ahli's fourth goal at Military Academy Stadium. Hassan scored three goals in four league games this season. "I hope I can always live up to the fans' expectations," he concluded.
