Egyptian Premier League holders Ahli are on top of the table for the first time this year after coming back from behind to beat ENPPI 2-1 on Tuesday. Mauritanian striker Dominique da Silva came off the bench to score the equalizer and set up Emad Meteb with the winner after ENPPI had taken a first-half lead through Mohamed Aboul-Ella. The victory gave Ahli their 52nd point to become two clear of Zamalek, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Gaish on Monday. ENPPI remained fifth with 39 points. ENPPI's half The fit-again Meteb returned directly to Ahli's starting line-up, making the first start since his January comeback. But his presence was hardly felt in the first half as the Egypt striker had one shot on target easily caught by Mohamed Abou-Gabal after four minutes. The early attempt was all Abou-Gabal had to do in the first half, which was significantly controlled by the visitors, with Ahli looking obviously nervous. Thanks to some dreadful passing, the league holders didn't seem like the side looking for a win until Aboul-Ella silenced the Cairo Stadium fans emphatically. The ex-Zamalek captain beat Ahmed Adel with an unstoppable left-footed volley, following Ahmed Fathi's poor clearance to give the visitors a deserved lead on 35 minutes.
Aboul-Ella's wonder strike was not enough for ENPPI ENPPI remained in charge as Ahli's frontline duo Meteb and Geddo looked isolated from play, even so the latter had a golden opportunity to give his side an undeserved equalizer before the break. After Adel parried away Islam Awad's superb effort from distance, CAN 2010 hero Geddo beat the offside trap three minutes from the interval, only to blast the ball meters high of the bar. Dominique makes the difference Manuel Jose made two half-time changes to his out-of-sorts side, bringing in Dominique and Ahmed Shokri for Mohamed Barakat and Sayed Moawad. Dominique needed four minutes to make his point to Jose, heading home Fathi's precise cross from close range, following a fine team move involving Hossam Ashour and Geddo. Three minutes after the goal, Dominique almost grabbed the quickest of braces, but his left-footed effort went inches wide of the right post, signaling the return of normal service for the Reds. The pace of game was high at this point and Fathi sent ENPPI a warning note with a fine freekick thwarted by Abou-Gabal, who could do nothing with Ahli's next shot on goal on 71 minutes. It was last season's top scorer Meteb who easily headed in the vital second for Ahli, but credit goes to man of the match Dominique for the delightful assisted cross. Right after the goal, ENPPI received another blow after their talisman Walid Soliman limped off the pitch, making way for Vincent Die Fonait, who hardly touched the ball. Meteb should have put the scoreline beyond doubt by netting one of the goals of the season, following a terrific exchange of passes with Hossam Ghaly that ended with a poor finish from the striker near the end.
