Ali Maaloul struck in stoppage time to earn Al Ahly a 3-2 win over Ghazl El-Mahalla at El Mahalla Stadium in Gharbia Governorate on Monday night.
The Red Devils took the lead on the tenth minute through unlikely source when midfielder Mohamed Afsha pounced on a loose ball from a goal mouth melee.
Yehya Hamed came to El-Mahalla rescue in the 22nd minute as the defender popped up with superb defensively play to clear Percy Tau’s effort off the line.
The hosts nearly leveled matters in the 38th minute but Abdo Yehia’s deflected effort from the edge of the area sailed inches wide of the upright.
El-Mahalla went even closer in the 42nd minute when Paulin Voavy got on the end of Mohamed Fathalla’s free-kick, however his header crashed against the upright from six-yards out.
Al Ahly extended their lead four minutes into the second half, as Percy Tau showed a good turn of pace to lose his marker, before firing a low effort past Amr Shaaban from the top of the box.
Tau squandered a glorious chance to get his second of the game five minutes later as he missed the target from six-yards out with the goal at his mercy.
El-Mahalla reduced the deficit on the 57th minute courtesy of a brilliant strike from Abdel Kadel Yehia to make it 2-1.
Mohamed Sherif was presented with a chance to extend Al Ahly’s lead in the 65th minute but the midfielder blazed his first-time effort over the crossbar from inside the box.
Himid Mao nearly found an equalizer in the 78th minute, as the forward cut in from the right flank, before firing a strike just wide of the upright.
El-Mahalla did manage to level the matters on the 90th minute when Al Ahly defender Akram Twafiq sent the ball in his own net in an attempt to clear a corner.
However, Al Ahly secured the win in stoppage time when Maaloul showed great composure to send a free-kick past Amr Shaaban.
