Ahly, Africa advance

TOKYO (GoPharaohs.com) - The first team to qualify for two successive FIFA Club World Cups also became the first African side to win a match in the competition, with Egyptian champions El-Ahly disposing of Oceania representitives Auckland City FC 2-0.

Second half goals from two of the Red Devils’ most reliable fixtures proved too much for Auckland City FC, an amateur club hailing from New Zealand, to handle. First, striker Flavio found the back of the net just when it seemed as though El-Ahly had perhaps lost its way. His second half strike was followed later by an exquisite set-piece goal by Mohammed Abo Treika.

Decked out in their familiar red tops and not so familiar black shorts, El-Ahly dominated the early exchanges but indecision in front of goal left them empty-handed. The best opportunity of the half for the five-time African champions came in the opening minutes, with Abu Treika pushing a left-footer just wide from close range.

The two goal-scorers would combine on a brilliant one-two on 20 minutes, only to see Flavio’s mis-hit strike sputter wide. Three free-kicks from dangerous positions in the final 10 minutes of the half bore no fruit for an Ahly side still searching for the breakthrough.

El-Ahly avoided disaster in the opening moments of the second half when Islam El-Shater’s misjudged move in defense led to a goal-mouth scramble that was narrowly cleared.

But just seven minutes after the restart, Flavio would quell any fears of a repeat result of last year’s opening match for El-Ahly with a moment of individual brilliance. The Angolan international accutely fired home into the top-left corner from the top of the box to give the Africans a deserved lead.

Twenty-two minutes later, El-Ahly’s maestro in midfield Mohammed Abo Treika allayed the team’s fans fears for good with a breath-taking free-kick from just outside the penalty area. The swerving strike curled above and around the wall and into the roof of the net for what is by all accounts an early favorite for the goal of the tournament.

Abo Treika almost added a second from a similar position five minutes later, only to see the ball sail just high of the crossbar.

Tarek Saeed, Akwety Mensah, and Ahmed Sedik comprised El-Ahly’s three substitutions, seeing action late on.

Mohammed Shawqy was inches away from giving El-Ahly three goals on the night, but his rocket flew just wide with five minutes to play. The Egyptian national team starlet would follow that effort up with an unneccessary booking two minutes later thanks to a harsh tackle in midfield.

Auckland City FC wouldn’t bow out without a fight, launching balls forward which saw goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary get his most work of the day.

The Oceania champs would fall short however, as favorites El-Ahly advance to Wednesday’s semifinal against Internacional of Brazil. A match in which El-Ahly - like Auckland City FC on Sunday - will find themselves heavy underdogs.