Defending champions Ahly made it two wins out of two after beating Arab Contractors 2-0 in the Egyptian league at Petrosport Stadium on Thursday.
With new coach Hossam El-Badry off to a winning start following last week's 1-0 opening victory over Ismaily, two goals from defender Mohamed Naguib and Abdallah El-Said - who scored the winner against Ismaily from the spot - either side of the interval ensured his second win on the trot.
Contractors were forced to cope with only 10 men for the last 14 minutes of the game after midfielder Mohamed Shaaban was handed a second yellow card to receive his marching orders.
Ahly are now on top of the table with six points from two games, as the remaining games of the week resume the following day.
Two crosses, two goals
Shortly after Contractors defender Mohamed Samir had mishit a clearance that seemed destined into his own hit, Ahly took the lead through defender Naguib when he timely rushed to head home the ensuing corner at the far post.
Winger Moemen Zakareya then came close to doubling the Reds' lead just one minute from regular time, only to see his strike miss the target from point-blank range.
Contractors, however, refused to head into the dressing rooms without testing Sherif Ekramy, when ex-Ahly forward Mohamed Farouk's shot from outside the area was denied by the keeper.
Mohamed Shaaban signaled Contractors' intent to get back into the game minutes into the second half, when he singlehandedly evaded a couple of challengers while drifting from the left into the middle before seeing his strike go high over.
But it was the visiting side who asserted their determination to win the game via another headed goal from playmaker El-Said in the 68th minute.
Substitute John Antwi, who replaced striker Amr Gamal, played a clever through ball for full-back Ahmed Fathi, whose cross was powered home by El-Said at the far post.
And it could have been three when Walid Soliman's shot from inside the area was saved by keeper Hassan Mahmoud in what seemed to be a certain goal.
With the hosts not really looking capable of mounting a fightback, the dismissal of Shaaban for two bookable offences seemed to dash any hopes of a comeback.
Antwi was on the verge of making the score 3-0 in stoppage time, only to see his effort go wide as Ahly made it two wins out of two.
