Al Ahly’s dominance of Egyptian football for the 2022-23 season continued on Friday with a 1-0 victory over Pyramids FC in the Egyptian Super Cup played in Abu Dhabi. A penalty kick from Ali Maâloul in the first half of extra time following a 0-0 draw over ninety minutes gave Ahly their second trophy of the campaign after the Cairo giants won defeated Pyramids in the final of the 2021-22 Egypt Cup played earlier this season. Pyramids replaced reigning Egyptian Premier League champions Zamalek as Ahly’s opponents earlier this week after Zamalek withdrew in protest.
Friday’s final saw Pyramids come out as the more aggressive and dangerous team in a first half that featured few opportunities. Pyramids forward Fagrie Lakay tested Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy in the 19th minute with a low shot from outside the penalty area but it was tipped away without too much trouble. Ahly’s best chance in the opening forty-five minutes arrived late in the half when a direct free kick from Maâloul was tipped over by Pyramids keeper Ahmed El Shenawy.
A moment of defensive excellence for each team prevented a goal from arriving in the second half. Ahly attacker Ahmed Abdelkader produced a splendid dribbling run on the left wing in the 54th minute and found an open Ahmed Kendouci with his cross but Pyramids midfielder Walid El Karti’s excellent sliding challenge at the final moment saved his team from conceding. Mohamed El Shenawy came up with an incredible diving save in the 71st minute when Mohamed Chibi’s corner kick found El Karti for a volley he was shocked did not go into the goal.
With extra time needed to find a winner, Ahly snatched the lead when Maâloul sent Ahmed El Shenawy the wrong way on a spot kick after forward Kahraba beat Ahmed Samy to a long ball and was taken down by the Pyramids defender in the penalty area. The match heated up soon after the goal when Chibi drew the anger of several Ahly players right in front of the Ahly supporters to set off a pushing match between the opponents. In the end it was Ahly who held on for the trophy with a busy stretch in the Egyptian Premier League and CAF Champions League approaching.
Highlights from the Super Cup final are below.
96th Minute: Ali Maâloul scores with a penalty kick after Kahraba is taken down
Soon after Al Ahly score, the the teams clash in front of Ahly supporters following an incident involving Mohamed Chibi
Extended Match Highlights
