Five-star Al Ahly crush Asyut Petroleum in League Cup opener

Al Ahly opened their Egyptian League Cup campaign with a 5-0 win over Asyut Petroleum in the first round of the group stage at El Salam Stadium on Wednesday.

The Red Eagles dominated from the outset, relying on relentless pressing and quick, one-touch passing to control the game.

Their pressure paid off in the second minute when Mohamed Magdy Afsha opened the scoring with a well-placed follow-up from inside the area.

Soufiane Benjdida doubled Al Ahly’s lead in the 33rd minute, converting a fine assist from Hussein El Shahat from inside the area.

Al Ahly continued to apply pressure in the first half, with Benjdida and El Shahat both missing clear chances to extend their lead.

Al Ahly coach Hussein Ammouta made two changes at halftime, bringing on Akram Tawfik and Omar El Saie for Ali Mahmoud and Afsha.

Afsha had suffered minor calf pain during the first half, and the team’s medical staff opted to substitute the midfielder as a precaution to prevent the injury from worsening.

El Shahat scored Al Ahly’s third goal in the 58th minute after capitalising on a loose ball from the Asyut Petroleum goalkeeper inside the area and finding the net. Two minutes later, El Shahat struck again to make it 4-0.

He received a well-placed pass from Taher Mohamed Taher, cut into the box and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot from the right side.

Omar Sayed Mowad completed the rout in the 82nd minute, racing through one-on-one with the Asyut Petroleum goalkeeper after receiving a long pass from Taher Mohamed Taher before finding the net.

The 2026-27 League Cup season is the sixth edition of the tournament, with 20 clubs divided into four groups of five teams.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.