Al Ahly cruise into the final with comprehensive win over WAC
Al Ahly 3-1 Wydad Casablanca (agg 5-1)
That's the final whistle in Cairo. Al Ahly march on to the final with a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate win over Wydad Casablanca and with a 3-1 win on the night. The Red Devils good value for their win outclassing the Moroccan side in both legs.
Play held up briefly with the medical kart on the pitch as Comara gets treated for a knock.
WAC have played with great discipline and dignity given the task ahead of the Moroccan side and compounded by the early Al Ahly strike. The Red Devils strong favourites to lift the Champions League this year now one would feel.
Dieng goes on a mazy run and just over hits the ball as he breaks into the WAC area.
Into the final minute of regulation time we go. 2/3 minutes to be added I'd estimate. Al Ahly looking strong as 4 miknutes of added time confirmed.
So close for Al Ahly as Kahraba breaks, checks his run and just pulls the ball right of the WAC goal.
With Al Ahly progressing to the final, the remaining two games of the competition will be staged at the Cairo International stadium
Al Ahly 3-1 WAC (Agg 5-1)
Goooooooooooooooooool. Strike of the tie for WAC as Zouhair El Moutaraji rifles a fierce drive into the corner of the Al Ahly net. An absolute banger from the WAC player.
Soliman in turn is awarded a card for a late challenge
Walid Soliman goes close for Ahly as he drives his shot just inches wide of the WAC goal.
So close from the veteran who almost made it 4 for the home side.
Less than 15' remain in Cairo and the game now being played at a understandably slower pace with Ahly now looking forward to the November final where the winner of the other tie (Zamalek-Raja Casablanca) will await the Red Devils.
First card of the evening in what has been a clean affair.
Dieng fouled as Jabrane earns a yellow card
Possession after 72': Al Ahly 62-38 Wydad (%)
Trying to imagine how the atmosphere would be here at the Cairo International with 90,000 passionate Al Ahly fans celebrating every minute of this comprehensive win for the home side.
It's all about saving face now for the side from Casablanca. To be honest they've been outclassed by the club known as the 'club of the century' and the most successful in African football,
WAC players now looking rather dejected as they know this tie is over.
Noussir off for WAC and he is replaced by Asrir
Al Ahly changes: • El Shenawy out for Ali Lotfi. • Kahraba comes on for Marwan Mohsen.
Wydad AC with two changes: • El Hassouni replaced by Junior Magbi. • Aouk out for Moutaraji
Al Ahly 3-0 WAC
Goooooool. Al Ahlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy make it 3
As Wydad press, they are leaving swathes of open space allowing Ahly to break with spare men. One feels another goal for the men in red is imminent.
Kazadi Kasengu rises well for WAC but his header is just over the Ahly bar. Good for Wydad as they strive to get a goal that would at least serve as a boost for morale.
Wydad have nothing to lose and everything to gain at this point of the tie.
Changes afoot for WAC with various Wydad players poised to enter the action.
WAC have, to their credit not thrown in the towel and are making a decent effort of trying to secure a foothold in this tie as Al Ahly go close again with El Shahat almost making it 3-0 for the Red Devils.
Can WAC produce what would be one of the biggest upsets, not just in African football but in global football and turn this tie around.
Apologies for a lack of posts for the end of the first half but system problems meant we couldn't update. We're back now and all set in Cairo.
Second half ready to go here in Cairo.
Hussein El Shahat the marksman for Al Ahly.
Goooooooooooool .... Ahly make it 2.... teasing the WAC defence and picking his spot. The Cairo side with more than one foot in the final.
Al Ahly go close as WAC press launching a fine counter with the Moroccan side pushing forward. The men in red pushing with numerical advantage but the final effort is struck over the bar.
Congolese striker Kazadi Kasengu looking lively for WAC tonight as he wins a dangerous free kick for his side. El Hadad poised to strike and his effort is inches wide.
Al Ahly fresh from claiming the Egyptian league title a few weeks back. A record 42nd domestic league haul for the Red Devils from Cairo. WAC had to watch city rivals Raja claim the Moroccan league title.
Despite going behind, this a much better performance from WAC with the Casablanca side showing more drive and determination already after a dismal showing last weekend in Morocco.
WAC appeal for a spot kick as Walid El Karti is clipped by an Ahly defender. Nothing going for Mr. Gomes as he waves play on.
Al Ahly go close again as Junior forces a fine stop from Tagnaouti in the WAC goal. A major task ahead for WAC now with the Moroccan giants needing to dig deep if they want to secure a place in the November final.
Al Ahly 1-0 WAC
It's Mohsen who puts the Egyptian side ahead.
Gomes in consultation with the VAR team asking if he should award the goal..... Allow the goal is the message.... VAR awards the strike
Al Ahly players asking that the match official consult the VAR to review the play. It was ever, ever so close as the game is briefly held up.
Gamondio really has his men fired up as they look for that early goal that would get the Casablanca side back into the tie. Caution needed too as another for Al Ahly could end the tie. The ball is in the WAC net but the flag is up.
WAC go close in the first minute as Kasengu fires a shot just wide. That's a positive attitide from the Moroccan side,
Off we go in Cairo. It's the home side who get us underway
Al Ahly with 8 Champions League titles to their name but not lifting the trophy since 2013. WAC have 2 titles to their name with the last win coming in 2017.
The teams take to the pitch here in Cairo. Ah Ahly in red with WAC in a black and red combo.
South African Victor Gomez is tonight's match official.
The final of this year's competition will be staged at the Cairo International stadium (setting for tonight's clash) unless ..... both Wydad and Raja make it through to the November 6 final, in that case the game would be staged at the mohammed V stadium in Casablanca.
A warm night ahead for both sides with a current temperature of 25C/77F in the Egyptian capital.
Wydad are still suffering from the absence of key players including Salaheddine Saidi, who contracted covid-19, and Ayoub El Amloud, who hasn't fully recovered from injury yet.
The Moroccan giants too will employ a 4-3-3 system and look for an early goal which would offer a sliver of hope.
The Moroccan giants too will employ a 4-3-3 system and look for an early goal which would offer a sliver of hope.
Pitso Mosimane will adopt a 4-3-3 formation for his side:
How does the second leg look for Wydad tonight?
Here's our match preview with a slight spoiler...... WAC have never beaten Al Ahly in Cairo....
Tonight's game at the Cairo International stadium will be staged behind closed doors (as was last week's game in Morocco) as a preventative measure against the covid-19 pandemic.
Anyhow, back to tonight's game and the question on all WAC fans lips is: Can the Moroccan giants turn the tie around ?
That second leg will now be staged in the Egyptian capital on 1 November.
The other semi-final is another Egypt-Morocco match-up with Raja Casablanca facing Zamalek. The first leg (also played last weekend) saw the Cairo based outfit secure a 0-1 win in Morocco with the second leg scheduled for tomorrow now postponed due to an outbreak of covid-19 cases within the Moroccan side.
The first leg played out last weekend in Casablanca saw the Egyptian side dominate the action securing a precious 0-2 away win and will fancy their chances to secure a place in next months final.
Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage from Cairo as Al Ahly face Wydad Casablanca in the second leg of the CAF Champions League.