Al Ahly back on track with a 3-0 win over Botswana’s Township Rollers

Egyptian giants Ahly recovered from a poor start to their African Champions League group-stage campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Botswana’s Township Rollers to give new coach Patrice Carteron a winning start in Alexandria on Tuesday.

Ahly’s leading marksman Walid Azaro, who was on the brink of sealing a Chinese move in the summer only for the deal to fall through at the last minute, broke the deadlock in the first half with a deft finish.

The Red Devils completely outplayed their unfancied opponents in the second half, scoring two more goals through a penalty from Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul and a header from substitute Islam Mohareb and wasting some goal-scoring chances which could have given them a more comprehensive win.

Carteron’s tenure got off to a fine start and Ahly’s display could go some way to assuring their disgruntled supporters that the team can still claim a record-extending ninth Champions League triumph and maintain their domestic supremacy despite a disappointing end to last season.

Although the Red Devils won the league title for a third straight time last term, they exited the Egypt Cup at the hands of a modest side and could only claim one point from their opening two games in Group A of the Champions League, drawing 2-2 with Tunisia’s Esperance and suffering a shock 2-0 loss at Uganda’s Kampala City.

But they now moved second in the group with four points, three behind leaders Esperance who came from two goals down to record an impressive 3-2 win over Kampala at home. Kampala and Township Rollers have three points each.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=FlKhrBoCf3Q