Egyptian giants Al-Ahly took a giant stride to a place in this season´s CAF Champions League final as they defeated 10-man ES Setif 4-0 at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo in the first-leg of the tournament’s semi-final.
The return-leg will be held at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers on Saturday May 14.
The aggregate winners will advance into the final against either Petro de Luanda or Wydad Casablanca on May 29.
The venue for the final is still to be decided by the Confederation of African Football.
Al-Ahly is Africa´s most successful club and looking to reinforce their dominance of the continental club competition after winning the last two editions of the Champions League.
South African forward Percy Tau racked up two goals and two assists.
Tau both opened and closed the scoring, and set up goals for Taher Mohamed and Mohamed Sherif, as Pitso Mosimane’s Red Devils put one foot in the final of the premier continental competition and moved closer to a third successive African crown.
The Black Eagles, meanwhile, were hamstrung by a sending off for Amir Karaoui and will have a mountain to claim in the return game in Algeria next Saturday if they are to bring themselves back into contention.
Al-Ahly thought they had gotten off to a flying start when Taher Mohamed found the back of the net – via a deflected shot – in the third minute, but a VAR review disallowed the goal due to an offside call, much to the disappointment of the home fans.
Nonetheless, Ahly claimed the lead on the half-hour mark when Mohamed provided a sumptuous in-swinging cross from the left flank to pick out Percy Tau, who scored with a downward header past Setif goalkeeper Sofiana Khedairia.
Five minutes later Setif were reduced to 10 men when Amir Karaoui was sent off for a stamp on the ankles of Hussein el-Shahat. Referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa initially only brandished a yellow card, but upon a VAR review he rescinded the caution and opted for a full dismissal.
The Algerian side should have levelled the game in injury time before the interval when a free kick delivery passed through a crowded Ahly penalty to find an unmarked Hicham Belkaroui at the far post, but he skewed an effort wide from close range.
The Red Devils doubled their lead nine minutes into the second stanza, with Tau and Mohamed swapping roles: the South African striker’s low shot deflected off a defender and looped up to be the perfect assist for Mohamed to run in and head home from close range for 2-0.
A third goal arrived in the 72nd minute, with substitute Mohamed Sherif running onto a through ball from Tau before chipping beyond Khedairia to put the Egyptian hosts in full control of the tie.
And Tau completed his masterful display with a second goal in the final minute of regulation time, easily tapping home from close range after fine set-up play from Luis Miquissone and Mohamed Hany.
Wydad secures away win over Petro
Wydad Athletic Club took a big step towards the final thanks to a victory against Petro (3-1) in Luanda in the first-leg of the semi-finals.
The visitors started the game very well by creating the first chances. Aymen el-Hassouni missed the target at the very first minute.
In the aftermath, the Angolans missed shot after shot against goalkeeper Tagnaouti.
Quarter of an hour into play and on a free kick from Attyat Allah, Tiago Azulao with a header, scored against his camp. A boon for the Moroccans.
After the goal, Petro players climbed higher but failed to set the record straight. Neither Yano nor Gleison managed to surprise Tagnaouti.
In first-half stoppage time, just after a miss from Jaredi, Yahya Jabrane doubled the advantage for Wydad following a powerful shot from outside the box.
After the break, the foals of Santos played their all in order to succeed in leveling the mark without however managing to find the target.
Yano missed, just like Quinito during the first five minutes of the second half.
Shortly after the hour mark, Guy Mpenza sealed the victory of the Moroccans by scoring the third goal for Wydad. The Congolese striker concluded a nice collective work (68 ‘).
Ten minutes from the end of the match, Ricardo Job reduced the gap for the Angolans, scoring the goal of hope one week before the return match scheduled for Casablanca.
It is worth noting the expulsion of Petro de Luanda player William Soares at the very end of the game.
