Nasser Maher’s goal seals dramatic Ahly comeback | El Gouna 1-2 Ahly | VIDEO
Two late goals gave Ahly a precious 2-1 comeback win at resilient Gouna on Sunday as the defending champions closed to within four points of leaders Zamalek in the Egyptian Premier League.
Gouna took a surprise lead early in the second half through ex Egypt and Ahly forward Nagi Gedo as they threatened to cause an upset for the second successive game, having secured a shock 2-1 victory over the big-spending Pyramids FC in their previous encounter.
But Ahly, who could not afford to drop points in a tight title race, roared back with a spirited display in the dying stages to snatch a much-needed win.
A low shot from substitute Karim Walid and a powerful effort from playmaker Nasser Maher completed the comeback as a workmanlike Ahly extended their winning run to eight matches.
The Red Devils, who finished with ten men after central defender Saad Samir was dismissed for a second bookable offence towards the end, moved up to second with 48 points, four behind Zamalek. Gouna are 11th on 26 points.
Chances were few and far between in a first half short on quality, with Ahly struggling to carve out openings.
They had the first real chance in the 50th minute when Maher sent a free header over the bar and Ahly were stunned three minutes later when Gedo, the hero of Egypt’s last Nations Cup triumph in 2010, ghosted behind a static defence to neatly control a long ball and dink it over the advancing keeper.
Right-back Mohamed Hani attempted to clear the ball but ended up rolling it into his own net.
Ahly pressed hard to overturn the deficit, with the introduction of Karim Walid and lively Angolan winger Geraldo making a notable difference.
Geraldo had a goal correctly disallowed for offside in the 73rd minute but Walid made amends six minutes later, taking advantage of a poor defensive clearance to send a half-volley in off the post.
Maher netted the decisive winner with three minutes remaining, receiving a lay-off from substitute Marwan Mohsen with an unstoppable first-timer which nestled into the roof of the net.
Match Facts:
Full time: Gouna 1-2 Ahly
Scorer: Mohamed Nagi “Gedo” 53 / Karim Nedved 79, Marwan Mohsen 87
Red cards:
Saad Samir (Ahly)
Yellow cards:
Joseph Nogwem (Gouna)
Islam Roshdi (Gouna)
Gatoch Panom (Gouna)
Khaled Sobhi (Gouna)
Ali Maaloul (Ahly)
Nasser Maher (Ahly)
Amr El-Sulaya (Ahly)
Saad Samir (Ahly)
Marwan Mohsen
Line ups:
Gouna: Mahmoud El-Ghrbawy, Mohamed Nady, Ahmed Oka, Khaled Sobhy, Joseph Nogwem, Ahmed El-Alfy (Islam Roshdi 46), Gatoch Panom (Loai Wael 86), Serge Aka, Eslam Abdel-Naem, Ahmed Hassan Mekky (Ousseynou Boye 72), Mohamed Nagy ‘Gedo’
Ahly: Sherif Ekramy, Mohamed Hani, Saad Samir, Ayman Ashraf, Ali Maaloul, Amr El-Sulaya , Hisham Mohamed (Karim “Nedved” Walid 56), Hussein El-Shahat (Geraldo 56), Nasser Maher, Ramadan Sobhi (Marwan Mohsen 74), Junior Ajayi.
