Pitso Mosimane was back on the touchline as Al Ahly advanced to the Club World Cup semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Monterrey on Saturday night.
Result: Al Ahly 1-0 Monterrey
Date: 05 February 2022
Venue: Al Nahyan Stadium
The Red Devils, who qualified for this tournament after winning the CAF Champions League, were without a number of key players who were with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Percy Tau also not available due to injury.
Mosimane's charges almost had a perfect start after Ahmed Abdelkader forced a save out of goalkeeper Esteban Andrada in the bottom corner.
The game was opening up after that and Taher Mohamed also came close to breaking the deadlock for Al Ahly on the half-hour mark with a strike in the box that was saved by Andrada after a cross by Ali Maaloul.
However, the tempo of the game was slowing down in the closing phase of the first stanza, with little goal-mouth action, as they headed to the half-time break deadlocked.
The Red Devils eventually had a perfect start in the second stanza, as Mohamed Hany broke the deadlock eight minutes in with a strike past Andrada after finding space in the box.
Afsha came close to doubling the lead for Al Ahly in the 65th minute with a cracking strike from outside the box that was saved by Andrada in the top corner.
The African champions were denying Monterrey chances, with goalkeeper Ali Lotfi not having much to do and Mosimane made a change 16 minutes before time, as Luis Miquissone replaced Abdelkader for fresh legs in midfield.
The game was on the edge in the dying minutes, with the Mexican side raising their game but the Red Devils held on to book a spot in the semi-finals against Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras.
