Youthful-looking Ahly turned on style in the second half to demolish Petrojet 4-0 and close on an eighth straight Egyptian Premier League title after setting up a title decider against unfancied Smouha.
Ramadan Sobhi, a 17-year-old playmaker likened to club great Mohamed Abou-Treika, scored twice and promising striker Amr Gamal and substitute Ahmed Raouf were also on target after a drab goalless draw in the first half as Ahly swept to a comprehensive victory that could prove crucial when they meet Smouha on Monday.
Ahly keeper Sherif Ekramy guessed the right way twice to block two Petrojet penalties either side of the interval in a starring role.
Alexandria-based outfit Smouha, the surprise package of this season’s competition, defeated Ahly’s Cairo rivals Zamalek 2-1 in Wednesday’s other game to claim maximum points from two matches in the final four-team mini-league phase.
Ahly and Smouha, who guaranteed at least a runners-up spot and a place in the African Champions League for the first time in their history, are level on six points ahead of their decider.
With Ahly enjoying a better goal difference, thanks to their 4-0 win over Petrojet which gifted them a one-goal lead over Smouha, they will wrap up their 37th league title if they draw on Monday.
Smouha have no option but to win to claim one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition, which was launched in 1948.
Ahly and Zamalek have dominated Egypt’s premier club competition since 2002, with Ahly enjoying the lion’s share with seven consecutive triumphs from 2004 to 2011. The last two seasons were called off due to the political turmoil that gripped Egypt.
Al Ahly Trashed Petrojet 4-0 | Match Video Review
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOlHc4aswwU[/youtube]
