Al Ahly were held to a 1-1 draw against National Bank SC on Thursday night at Al Ahly WE Al Salam Stadium in a game postponed from Week 25 of the Egyptian Premier League.

Afsha broke the deadlock in the 47th minute from a brilliant curved shot that found the back of the net.

We kept searching for the second goal, but we lacked sharpness in front of the goal.  

Despite having the upper hand in the game, Karim Bambo’s header equalized the score for National Bank SC five minutes before full-time.

The first half

The game started with the two teams trying to have possession in the game and our attacks focused on the right and left sides.

In the 15th minute, we had our first scoring chance in the game. Afsha delivered a brilliant cross from the right flank, which reached Kahraba’s header, but the opponent’s keeper managed to block it away from his net.

We kept pushing forward to break the deadlock. Ali Maaloul sent a strong cross inside the box, but Mahmoud El Zanfly deflected the ball away.

El Soulia had a chance to try his luck with a sublime screamer, but his shot did not reach its target. 

In the 41st minute, El Soulia was awarded a foul on the right side. Hany delivered a brilliant cross, but Ajayi’s header missed the bottom corner.

With 43 minutes on the clock, El Soulia tried again but his shot was deflected to reach Hamdy Fathy’s leg, but he failed to control it, missing a clear chance to score.

During the last minutes of the first half, the Red Eagles kept searching for the opener, but National Bank’s players stood their ground and managed to keep the result in a goalless draw.

The second half

The second half got underway in the best possible fashion. After three minutes, Afsha breaks the deadlock with a sensational shot. He received the ball inside the box and fired a staggering shot into the top corner to gift us a 1-0 lead.

In the 65th minute, Pitso Mosimane used his bench as Aliou Dieng joined instead of Junior Ajayi.

The minutes went on, and we kept searching for the second goal, but the opponent’s defenders blocked all our attempts.

In the 73rd minute, Mosimane made his second substitution, as Walter Bwalya entered the pitch instead of Kahraba. Ten minutes later, Marwan Mohsen joined the game instead of Mohamed Sherif.

Against the game flow, National Bank’s moment came in the 85th minute, as Karim Bambo netted the equalizer from a header.

The Red Eagles kept pushing to score the second goal, but our attempts lacked the sharpness and perfection needed to add the second goal.

The referee blew his whistle, declaring a 1-1 draw.

Match Sheet

Venue: Al Ahly WE Al Salam Stadium

Referee: Abdelaziz El Sayed

Occasion: A postponed game from Week 25 of the Egyptian Premier League

Starting Line-up
Ali Lotfy - Ayman Ashraf - Badr Benoun  - Ali Maaloul  - Mohamed Hany - Amr El Soulia - Hamdy Fathy  - Afsha  - Junior Ajayi  - Mahmoud Kahraba - Mohamed Sherif

Substitutions:
Dieng (Ajayi)
Bwalya (Kahraba)
Marwan (Sherif)

Goals
Afsha 48’
Karim Bambo 85’

Next Game
On Sunday 25 July against El Entag El Harby