Champions Ahly draw first blood

Holders Al Ahly on Saturday placed one foot in the second round of the Caf Champions League after securing a vital 2-1 advantage over Tusker at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Holders Al Ahly on Saturday placed one foot in the second round of the Caf Champions League after securing a vital 2-1 advantage over Tusker at the Nyayo National Stadium.

This result leaves the Kenyan champions in need of a win by at-least two clear goals in the second leg in Cairo in two weeks time to be assured of progressing to the next phase.

The Egyptians on the other hand can afford a draw of any kind or a 1-0 loss in that game but still sail through courtesy of the away goals rule.

This result however fell short of offering a fair reflection of the proceedings on a sunny afternoon at the 30,000-seater venue located within the Capital’s CBD, in an encounter graced by amongst others outgoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba.

The hosts got off their blocks in breathtaking fashion and and managed to win the first corner seconds after kick off.

Ishmael Dunga was however not equal to Khalid Aucho resultant corner kick, instead directing his header just over the bar.

The visitors displayed more composure and technical abilities in the first 15 minutes and seemed content with letting the brewers maintain possession as they planned sporadic attacks in phases.

Experienced midfielder Mohammed Barakat and Ahmed Adel proved a constant menace, through the countless raids from the flanks but Boniface Oluch who had been preferred by coach Robert Matano ahead of Samuel Odhiambo between the posts remained untroubled.

Jesse Were, who stared the match on the left hand side of a three-pronged attack, was proving a handful for fullback Saad Samir with his marauding runs, with one such attack leading him to playing Dunda through on goal after 27 minutes, though the youngster was ruled out for offside.

Made no mistake

Al Ahly coach Hossam El Badry’s pep talk at the interval seemed to produce dividends, as the Egyptian champions struck twice within a span of eight second half minutes through danger-man Ahmed Shokry to leave a majority of fans at the venue stunned.

First, just a minute after resumption, a cleverly worked short corner by Wael Gomaa found Mohammed Barakat, and the 36 year old, who famously netted the goal that eliminated Mathare United from the Caf Confederation Cup tournament 12 years ago while at Ismailia FC, turned provider this time for Shokry, who made no mistake in poking the ball in between Oluoch’s legs and into the back of the net.

Shokry’s second was a concise header into the net past a stranded Oluoch, after good initial play and cross fromyet again Barakat.

Clearly perturbed, Matano brought in Joshua Oyoo and Andrew Ssekyayombya in a bid to salvage the game as the capacity crowd showed signs of running out of patience.

Credit to Tusker though, who responded with vigor in a bid to salvage the match, but Shikokoti was guilty of failing to control the ball when it seemed easier to beat custodian Sherif Ekramy to beat on the hour mark.

Were was however more lucky three minutes later as he capitalised on a cross by the impressive Ugandan Robert Omunuk to halve the scoreline with a header into the corner of Ekramy’s net.

This result leaves the Kenyan champions in need of a win by at-least two clear goals in the second leg in Cairo in two weeks time to be assured of progressing to the next phase.

The Egyptians on the other hand can afford a draw of any kind or a 1-0 loss in that game but still sail through courtesy of the away goals rule.

This result however fell short of offering a fair reflection of the proceedings on a sunny afternoon at the 30,000-seater venue located within the Capital’s CBD, in an encounter graced by amongst others outgoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba.

The hosts got off their blocks in breathtaking fashion and and managed to win the first corner seconds after kick off.

Ishmael Dunga was however not equal to Khalid Aucho resultant corner kick, instead directing his header just over the bar.

The visitors displayed more composure and technical abilities in the first 15 minutes and seemed content with letting the brewers maintain possession as they planned sporadic attacks in phases.

Experienced midfielder Mohammed Barakat and Ahmed Adel proved a constant menace, through the countless raids from the flanks but Boniface Oluch who had been preferred by coach Robert Matano ahead of Samuel Odhiambo between the posts remained untroubled.

Jesse Were, who stared the match on the left hand side of a three-pronged attack, was proving a handful for fullback Saad Samir with his marauding runs, with one such attack leading him to playing Dunda through on goal after 27 minutes, though the youngster was ruled out for offside.

Made no mistake

Al Ahly coach Hossam El Badry’s pep talk at the interval seemed to produce dividends, as the Egyptian champions struck twice within a span of eight second half minutes through danger-man Ahmed Shokry to leave a majority of fans at the venue stunned.

First, just a minute after resumption, a cleverly worked short corner by Wael Gomaa found Mohammed Barakat, and the 36 year old, who famously netted the goal that eliminated Mathare United from the Caf Confederation Cup tournament 12 years ago while at Ismailia FC, turned provider this time for Shokry, who made no mistake in poking the ball in between Oluoch’s legs and into the back of the net.

Shokry’s second was a concise header into the net past a stranded Oluoch, after good initial play and cross fromyet again Barakat.

Clearly perturbed, Matano brought in Joshua Oyoo and Andrew Ssekyayombya in a bid to salvage the game as the capacity crowd showed signs of running out of patience.

Credit to Tusker though, who responded with vigor in a bid to salvage the match, but Shikokoti was guilty of failing to control the ball when it seemed easier to beat custodian Sherif Ekramy to beat on the hour mark.

Were was however more lucky three minutes later as he capitalised on a cross by the impressive Ugandan Robert Omunuk to halve the scoreline with a header into the corner of Ekramy’s net.