Al Ahly off to winning start

Al Ahly got off to a winning start in group D of the Caf Champions League when they defeated AS Vita 2-0 at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Saturday night.

The Red Devils go to second place on the standings behind Simba, who defeated JS Saoura 3-0 earlier in the day. The Black Dolphins are placed third.

Vita were under pressure from early on, but their defence did well to keep Ahly’s attack under wraps. However, they were dealt a major blow on 36 minutes when Dharles Kalonji picked up a second yellow card and was sent off.

Ahly went on to completely dominate possession with their numerical advantage but they had to wait until the 65th minute to finally break the deadlock: a cut-back from the right by-line by Mohamed Hany found substitute Nasser Maher, who coolly fired home to put the Red Devils 1-0 up.

The Egyptian giants confirmed the three points in the 79th minute when Ali Maaloul converted a penalty. The spot kick was awarded after an infringement in the 18-yard area from the under-pressure Vita defence.

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The teams will be in Champions League group D action next weekend, with Ahly away to Algerian side JS Saoura on Friday 18 January, while Vita will be at home to Tanzania’s Simba the following day.

Al Ahly (0) 2 (Maher 65’, Maaloul 79’ pen)

AS Vita 0

Ahly: El Shenawy, Hany, Maaloul, Coulibaly, Ashraf, El Shahat (Nedved 75’), Mohamed (Hamoudi 68’), El Soleya, Soliman, Mohsen (Maher 54’), Sobhi

Vita: Lukong, Shabani, Bangala, Kalonji, Muzinga, Tonombe, Munganga, Kasengu (Sita 67’), Ngoma, Moloko (Kisinda 82’), Makusu