A late cross-cum-shot from Ahmed Shokri saved Ahli's blushes and salvaged a 1-1 draw with Arab Contractors in the Egyptian Premier League on Saturday. Visitors Contractors were fired ahead by Mohamed Salah on 52 minutes before talented playmaker Shokri brought the score level in the 91st minute. Ahli striker Mohamed Fald sustained an injury early in the first half, which forced him to make way for Mohamed Barakat right away. The Mountain Wolves were reduced to ten men after Shamusideen Tijani Akanbi was sent off on 75 minutes for a second bookable offence. Ahli are now in fourth place with 24 points, six adrift of their arch-rivals and league leaders Zamalek. Cairo duo Ahli and Zamalek lock horns in the capital derby on December 30th. Ahli coach Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Shafi 'Zizo' will face a dilemma should Fadl be ruled out of the anticipated game.
Ahli drew three times and recorded one win under Zizo Possession without goal menace Ahli were superior most of the match in terms of ball possession but couldn't show tangible goal menace. Mohamed Abou-Treika, who's one strike away from completing a century of goals, released a low shot from outside the area but his drive posed no threat. The Red Devils suffered from recurring defensive lapses midway through the first half, which could have cost them dearly. But Geddo was close to opening the scoring on the stroke of halftime when he eluded his challengers in the area, before his poor effort agonizingly went high over. Ahli kept the upper hand for a while after the break till their opponents surprisingly took the lead. Salah latched onto a long pass to go one-on-one with Ahli goalie Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud, who saw the ball squirm under his body and into the net.
Ahmed Fathi could have restored parity a couple of minutes later when his powerful free kick missed the goal by inches. Ahli's Shehab Ahmed also saw a thunderbolt go over the crossbar after dribbling past a defender. Tempo stepped up Contractors stepped up the tempo after the break, becoming dangerous on the counter attack. Abou-Treika volleyed a Barakat cross from close range but his drive was far from accurate. Ahli capitalized on their numerical advantage to take a stranglehold on the game after Tijani received his marching orders. Contractors, on the other hand, defended tightly in an attempt to maintain their slender lead and score their first win over Ahli in 15 years. But eventually a diagonal cross from Shokri accidentally hit the net.
