Egyptian champions Ahly continued their bid towards their first domestic double in nine years after claiming a 2-1 win over Haras El-Hodoud in a scrappy Egypt Cup last-16 game on Tuesday.
Veteran striker Emad Meteb, who was handed a rare starting berth, converted a penalty on the half-hour mark to put his side ahead before midfielder Amr El-Sulaya made it 2-0 in the 66th minute.
Meteb fired low into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of the keeper after a penalty was awarded for a needless handball on an El-Hodoud player.
El-Sulaya, a fringe player who was also included in the starting line-up due to the absence of some key players, let fly from distance as his powerful shot bounced off the keeper and into the corner of the net.
El-Hodoud, who famously beat Ahly in the Egypt Cup final in 2009, pulled one back when striker Mohamed Farouk converted a penalty following a handball by Ahly's full-back Mohamed Hani with eight minutes remaining but it was too little, too late.
The Alexandria-based club were also relegated from the Premier League, a competition Ahly won for a ninth time in 10 seasons.
Ahly have not won the domestic double since winning the league and cup in 2007. They were beaten by arch-rivals Zamalek in the Egypt Cup final last year.
The Red Devils next face Smouha, who finished third in the league, in the cup quarter final.
