Ahli escaped a second-half revival from ENPPI to grab a thrilling 3-2 win over their Cairo rivals at Arab Contractors Stadium. The league champions were comfortably in front after taking a 2-0 first-lead through an early Emad Meteb strike and a penalty from Mohamed Abou-Treika. But ENPPI came out roaring after the break, with Ahmed Abdul-Zaher scoring and Islam Awad missing a crucial penalty before Walid Soliman hit his former club on the counter. Midfielder Mohamed Shaaban scored for ENPPI eight minutes from time as Abdul-Zaher missed a goal-mouth chance to level it in injury time. Soliman haunts former club The first half saw Ahli fully dominate play, with Meteb scoring his fifth of the season after just two minutes. On his 33rd birthday, Abou-Treika won a penalty - following a challenge by Osama Ragab - and successfully converted it past Mohamed Abou-Gabal. It seemed like an easy win for the Reds as both teams went to the dressing rooms, but ENPPI were back in the game with an early second-half strike from Abdul-Zaher. Mokhtar Mokhtar's side then had a golden chance to equalize from the spot, only for Awad to miss the target poorly, with first-choice penalty-taker Adel Mostafa on the bench. Ahli capitalized with a crucial strike from Soliman, who smashed home wonderfully following a terrific exchange of passes with Abou-Treika. It is the second league goal for Soliman, with the first coming against Petrojet; one of the diminutive playmaker's former clubs as well. The petroleum side refused to give in as Shaaban notched home past Sherif Ekrami after Hossam Ghaly was dispossessed by Vincent Die Foneye in midfield.
