Hussein El Shahat scored twice and Ahmed Abdelkader added a late strike as reigning African club champions Al Ahly of Egypt eased to a 3-0 first leg victory over Ethiopian champions Saint George in the final qualifying stage of the CAF Champions League. Sunday’s victory at the Cairo International Stadium gives the Egyptian giants a substantial lead for the second leg which will take place at the same venue on September 29.
The visitors from Addis Ababa did well to subdue the Ahly attack in the opening minutes of the match but the hosts dominated possession and gradually increased their intensity. A clever team movement down the left wing from Ahly led to the opening goal when El Shahat collected a pass and cleverly slipped by Saint George defender Amanuel Terfa before placing a low shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Bahiru Negash in the 28th minute.
Ahly continued to control the match and it was El Shahat who displayed his finishing instincts to double the lead in the 58th minute. Kahraba ran onto a lofted pass over the Saint George defense and floated a high cross into the box. El Shahat controlled the ball flawlessly before waiting for an opening to strike past Negash from twelve yards out. Late on Ahly substitute Abdelkader’s low shot snuck past Negash at his near post following a dribbling run from the forward to confirm a three-goal advantage.
Highlights from the first leg are below.
