Three late goals gave holders Ahly another convincing 3-0 victory over Talae El-Geish and moved them top of the Egyptian Premier League on Wednesday as they overtook surprise package Maqassa.
El-Geish wasted a penalty in the first half and looked a side capable of making life hard for the mighty Red Devils but they suddenly retreated and collapsed in the second period, with Ahly taking full advantage to record a third successive win.
A powerful close-range volley from Moemen Zakareya following a brilliant cross from right-back Ahmed Fathi, a low shot from playmaker Abdallah El-Said and an easy tap-in from Nigerian forward Junior Ajayi in the space of nine minutes were enough to hand El-Geish their first defeat of the season.
Ajayi took his tally to three league goals, having won over coach Hossam El-Badry following his summer arrival from Tunisia's Sfaxien.
Ahly are on top with 26 points, two ahead of Maqassa who have a game in hand. El-Geish remain seventh with 16 points.
Bold approach
El-Geish's surprising bold approach made the first half an exciting affair, with both sides going close to breaking the deadlock.
Promising forward Ajayi, who has recently become Ahly's favourite lone striker, blasted high over with the goal at his mercy after a low cross found him after three minutes.
It was El-Geish's turn to waste a golden chance when they were awarded a penalty on 27 minutes after central defender Ahmed Hegazy had needlessly pushed Mohamed Ashraf but Ahmed Eid's effort straight down the middle struck the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy.
Ahly then embarked on a counter attack which almost gave them the lead when El-Geish keeper Emad El-Sayed failed to handle a cross and Moemen Soliman's follow-up effort hit the face of a defender with the goal gaping.
Geish eased off after the break and allowed Ahly to lay siege to their area.
Ahly were given a rare indirect free kick inside the area two minutes past the hour mark when the referee adjudged Gabon midfielder Franck Engonga to have passed the ball back to his keeper, who handled it.
After a touch-on, El-Said's effort struck a defender as the 11 players positioned themselves on the goal-line but Ahly made amends in the 73rd minute to end the visitors' resistance.
Fathi's superb diagonal cross found the unchallenged Zakareya, whose first-timer left the keeper with no chance.
El-Said doubled their lead four minutes later when his low shot from inside the area wrong-footed the guardian after his initial effort was blocked by the defence before Ajayi made sure of the three points eight minutes from time with an easy tap-in into an empty net.
