• 00:03
  • Monday ,05 February 2018
العربية

Ahly rout Ittihad to claim eighth straight league win

By-Ahram

Sports

00:02

Monday ,05 February 2018

Ahly rout Ittihad to claim eighth straight league win

Ahly made it eight wins in a row after convincingly seeing off Alexandria s Ittihad 3-0 in the Egyptian league at Borg El-Arab Stadium on Sunday.

A first-half goal from Moroccan striker Walid Azaro in the 39th minute was followed by another two after the break from Abdallah El-Said and Junior Ajayi in 78 and 81 minutes respectively.
 
The win cemented defending champions Ahly s position on the top of the table with 54 points, nine clear of second-placed Ismaily.
 
The Alexandrians started the game well, and could have come close when striker Emmanuel Banahene received the ball inside the area before making a good turn and striking towards goal but his effort eventually went out for corner.
 
Ten minutes later, Egypt and Ahly playmaker El-Said saw a free-kick from the left blocked by Ittihad keeper El-Hani Soliman in what was the visitors  first real threat of the game.
 
The breakthrough eventually came five minutes from half-time when midfielder Ahmed Fathi played a through ball towards the running-in-behind Azaro –  who chested the ball before taking a touch and beating the keeper at the near post.
 
The second half seemed an eventless affair early after the break, and it took Ahly more than 30 minutes to add a second goal – which did indeed come this time from El-Said.
 
The major highlight of the goal was Ajayi, who played a superb back-heel pass towards the onrushing El-Said into the area who found the net at the near post.
 
Ajayi then turned from provider to scorer just three minutes later, with a role reversal this time seeing El-Said tee up the Nigerian international who beat the keeper from inside the area to complete the rout.