This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress-Rabat-Caf
Al Ahly confirmed her place in the semi-finals of the Totalnergies Champions League after a 1-0 victory against Al Hilal on Tuesday evening at the Sheikh Bedia stadium in Mauritania. A victory which is added to that obtained in Cairo (1-0) during the first leg, allowing the champions in title to win 2-0 in the cumulation of the two games.
Imam Ashour, already the author of a decisive performance during the first leg, scored the only goal of the meeting in the 80th minute, thus offering Al Ahly his 21st qualification in the semi-finals, a sixth consecutive. The Egyptians will find in the semi-finals their South African rivals of the Mamelodi Sundowns in a highly anticipated duel.
A first half-time
As of kick -off, the two teams posted great caution, competing for the control of the midfielder. Al Ahly, under the leadership of Swiss coach Marcel Koller, appeared more dominating in the first minutes of the meeting.
Al Hilal’s Slovenian striker, Nijk Gradishar, almost unlocked the situation in the 9th minute, but his violent strike, after an ill -adjusted pass, was saved by the Ivorian goalkeeper of Al Ahly, Issa Fofana.
Imam Ashour, already omnipresent in the first match, caused an concern after an air shock, but the Egyptian midfielder quickly recovered to regain his influence throughout the game.
The occasions were rare, but Al Ahly was dangerous in the 34th minute when the shacking center of Mohamed Magdy escaped Gradishar and Wissam Abu Ali, who could not materialize.
Ashour then tried his luck in the 38th minute of a powerful strike from afar, forcing Fofana to a good intervention. Before half-time, Al Hilal was very close to shaking the nets, but a center shaved in the surface was released in extremis by the Egyptian defense.
Ashour’s decisive goal
After the break, Al Hilal intensified his offensive efforts, but did not happen his opportunities. The best of them occurred in the 64th minute, when Ahmed Salem found himself alone against Mohamed El Shenawy. The Al Hilal striker tried to deceive the Egyptian goalkeeper, but the latter, solid, pushed his strike.
Al Ahly resisted and brought the fatal blow ten minutes from the end. The replacement Taher Mohamed Taher delivered a perfectly dosed pass in the surface, and Ashour, still as sharp, scored the goal of qualification with great precision.
Al Hilal tried to react at the end of the match, benefiting from eight minutes of additional time, but without managing to score. Ahmed Reda, in the last seconds, almost doubled the bet, but his attempt was postponed by Fofana’s reflexes.
Sundowns in sight
Al Ahly is now turning to an enticing semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns, who eliminated Tunis’ hope in their quarter-final. This duel between two African Cadors promises to sparks and will undoubtedly attract all the eyes during the next stage of this 2024 Champions League.
