CAIRO – Striker Mohamed Sherif scored twice as holders Al-Ahly of Egypt claimed three crucial points by beating Al-Merrikh of Sudan 3-2 in the CAF Champions League Group A match in Cairo.
Victory lifted Ahly, who is eyeing to win the marquee African club competition a record third consecutive time, to second in Group A, level with Merrikh on four points but ahead on head-to-head records.
Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa top the table with seven points from three matches following a shock away victory over Ahly last week and the clubs clash again on March 12.
At the other end of the standings, Al-Hilal of Sudan has just one point and must defeat arch domestic rivals Merrikh in Omdurman this Friday to have any hope of a top-two finish and a quarter-finals place.
Ahly came into the re-arranged tie from a 1-0 loss at home to Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend and were looking to bounce back.
Merrikh threatened a comeback after coming from 2-0 after Mohamed Sheriff’s brace for the Red Devils, but Ahly proved luckier at the end.
Ahly went to the break with a 2-1 cushion, but should have had more goals on the balance of chances they created.
Sheriff broke the deadlock after just two minutes when he struck a low shot into the bottom left corner of the Merrikh goalie off a tight angle after being put through by a sublime Percy Tau ball.
The home side was off to a dominating start and was duly gifted. Sheriff had a chance for a second in the 20th minute when he ran on to the path of a Mohamed Hany through ball, but couldn’t give the ball a vital touch inside the six yard box.
On the other end, Merrikh had their first attempt at goal when Saadeldin Elsamani picked out Emad Eldin Salah but he curled a shot just wide at the edge of the box.
Ahly were not rattled and in the 34th minute, they made it 2-0 when Sheriff completed his brace with a first time left footed shot inside the box off a Mohamed Abdelkader pass.
Six minutes later, Sheriff almost grabbed a first half hattrick but his swinging volley from an Ali Maaloul cross was brilliantly saved by Merrikh keeper Monged Elneel.
Just two minutes after the missed chance, Merrikh gave them a huge lift when they halved the deficit, Nigerian import Tony Oyamarue finding the back of the net with a tap in off a Ramadan Agab pass from the right.
In the second half, Ahly was still on the front foot and came close in the 62nd minute when Ali Maaloul picked out Mohamed Magdy Afsha, but the latter’s well weighted shot missed the target by a whisker.
Seven minutes later, Ahly was stunned when Merrikh equalized. Saadeldin controlled the ball inside the box from an Emad Ali pretty assist before slamming the ball home.
The goal gave Merrikh belief that they could turn the tide in their favor, but were pegged back in the 76th minute when Karshom scored into his own net as he tried to cut out a shot from an Amr El-Solia shot after exchanging passes with Afsha.
Although Ahly continued to dominate possession in the second half, they were stunned on 69 minutes when Elsamani Saadeldin levelled with his third goal in two Champions League matches.
Ahly recovered to win the match through an own goal 14 minutes from time when Karshom deflected an El-Solia shot past goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid.
The match was originally scheduled for February 12, but delayed because Ahly was competing in the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, where they finished third.
The home side held on to the slim advantage to affirm the three points.
Matchdays four and five are set for March 11-12 and 18-19 with the final mini-league series on April 1-2. Winners and runners-up in the four groups advance to the knockout phase.
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