VIDEO: Martin Jol wins with Al Ahly 2-1 against Maqassa

Ramadan Sobhi, the architect of most of Ahly’s attacking attempts, broke the deadlock shortly before the interval but Maqassa’s Mohamed Gaber leveled the score on the hour mark after capitalizing on a dreadful mistake from defender Ahmed Hegazy.

However, substitute striker Amr Gamal finished off a neatly-worked counter attack with 14 minutes remaining to settle Ahly’s nerves and help them avenge a 1-0 defeat by the same opponent last November.

Dutchman Jol enjoyed a fine start to his reign as he seeks to lead Ahly to the league title after their eight-season hegemony was ended by bitter rivals Zamalek last term.

Zamalek will be desperate to beat Arab Contractors on Sunday to trim the gap back to six points and keep alive their hopes of defending the title.

Maqassa remain fourth in the table with 33 points, five behind second-placed Zamalek who occupy the last spot which qualifies for the African Champions League.

Match Facts:

FT: Al Ahly 2-1 Maqassa
Goals by: Ramadan Sobhi 42, Amr Gamal 76/ Mohamed Gaber 60
Yellow cards: Hossam Ashour 54, Abdallah El-Said 90 (Ahly)

Starting line-ups:

Ahly: Ahmed Adel, Ahmed Fathi, Rami Rabia, Ahmed Hegazy, Sabri Rahil, Hossam Ashour (Mohamed Hani 60), Hossam Ghaly, Abdallah El-Said, Moemen Zakareya, Ramadan Sobhi (Walid Soliman 84), Malick Evouna (Amr Gamal 66)

Maqassa: Mahmoud Hamdi, Ahmed Sami (El-Sayed Hamdi 85), Hosni Fathi, Abdel-Hamid Sami, Mohamed Aboul-Magd, Abdel-Latif Abou-Bakr (Omar Najdi 65), Amr Barakat, Mohamed Gaber (Ahmed Fawzi 85), Mahmoud Dunga, Hani Said, Nana Poku

Venue: Borg El-Arab stadium, Alexandria

Referee: Samir Osman

Watch the goals here:

Press Conference

Interview with Al Ahly’s new coach Martin Jol