Two months after meeting in the quarterfinals of the 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup, top Libyan clubs Al Ahli Tripoli and Al-Ittihad met in a Tripoli derby towards the end of the group stage in the Libyan Premier League season. Al Ahli won 2-1 courtesy of goals from Libya national team forward Saleh Al-Taher and Anis Saltou whose winning goal came in second half stoppage time for the victory. Mohamed Zubya struck the lone goal for Ittihad, who remain five points ahead of Ahli at the top of Group B with Ahli still having a match to make up. With two games remaining for most teams in the group both Ahli and Ittihad look safe bets to remain in the top-3 and qualify for the playoff stage.
Ahli took the lead in the 43rd minute following a movement down the right wing that led to a cross that was deflected right into the path of Al-Taher, who struck home from close range. Soon after the halftime break it was Al-Taher who had the entire goal to shoot at after Jordan national team winger Mohamed Abu Zraiq drew the goalkeeper out and crossed but Al-Taher somehow sent his finish over the bar. Soon after the hour mark the match was level from a simple tap-in for Zubya when a low cross made its way through to him at the far post.
In the end it was Ahli who came out on top to the dismay of Ittihad supporters. In the fourth minute of second half stoppage time a midfield turnover from Ittihad allowed Ahli to burst forward for a 3-on-3 break and Saltou received a pass on the left side of the Ittihad penalty area. The forward created space with a move past Ittihad defender Abdelaziz bin Ali before firing in to give his team a last-second winner.
Extended highlights from the derby match are below.
