Al Ahly open CAF Champions League group stage with dominant 4-1 win over JS Kabylie
Al Ahly opened their CAF Champions League group stage campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Algeria’s JS Kabylie at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday.
The Red Eagles lead Group B on goal difference ahead of Tanzanian side Young Africans, who earlier defeated Morocco’s FAR Rabat 1-0.
Al Ahly put early pressure on their opponents, with Mahmoud Hassan 'Trezeguet,' Ahmed Sayed Zizo, and Mohamed Sherif all missing clear scoring opportunities.
Sherif did find the back of the net, but his goal was ruled offside as Ahly continued to dominate in search of an opening goal.
Trezeguet eventually broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, heading in a brilliant cross from inside the box to give Al Ahly a deserved lead.
Three minutes later, Sherif doubled the advantage with a low strike from inside the area, sending Ahly into the break with a 2-0 lead.
Al Ahly maintained their dominance in the second half. Trezeguet had another powerful shot saved by JS Kabylie’s goalkeeper Mohamed Idir Hadid, before coming close again, only for his strike from outside the box to be denied by the crossbar.
However, a lapse in communication between Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy and defender Yasser Ibrahim allowed JS Kabylie to pull one back in the 57th minute.
Ibrahim failed to clear a wide cross from the right wing, and El-Shenawy misjudged the situation, inadvertently sending the ball into his own net.
Al Ahly coach Jess Thorup made his first tactical change in the 64th minute, bringing on Taher Mohamed Taher to replace Sherif as the team looked to regain control after conceding.
El-Shenawy was forced to leave the pitch in the 80th minute due to muscle issues, with Mostafa Shobier replacing him in goal.
Long-awaited Ashour returns
The 27-year-old Ashour, who had been sidelined for over two months after being diagnosed with hepatitis A, made his first appearance since mid-September.
The return of Emam Ashour added fresh energy to the team. Ashour came on in the 80th minute, replacing Zizo, and his presence immediately had an impact.
In injury time, Ashour fired a powerful shot from outside the box, but the ball deflected off Taher and fell kindly to Trezeguet, who completed his brace by blasting it into the net.
In the dying minutes, Thorup made further substitutions, introducing Mohamed Ben Romdhane and Hamza Abdel-Karim for Marwan Attia and Trezeguet.
Ashour capped off a memorable return with a stunning strike in injury time, sealing a 4-1 win for Ahly in their opening group-stage match.
Ahly’s next fixture comes against FAR Rabat away from home in the second round of the group stage on Saturday.
