Egyptian side and record Champions Al Ahly grabbed a solid advantage as they beat Esperance 3-1 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final.
48 fouls were committed, two penalties awarded thanks to the newly-introduced Video Assistant Referee in the competition as the 60,000 fans that were allowed into the Borg El Arab stadium in Alexandria stadium were treated to a classic physical battle.
Tunisian goalkeeper Ben Cherifia caused the first goal after bringing down Walid Azaro in the 29th minute. Ali Hamoudi squeezed a defence-splitting pass to Azaro who was quicker to the ball than the sliding keeper who slashed him down. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation and a minute later confirmed his decision from the video assistant referee.
Walid Soliman stepped up and sent it to his right, the keeper guessed right but the ball was too high for his stretch.
The Tunisians stepped up their game with a barrage of attacks but the Belaili and Khenissi’s stinging shots were punched away by El Shanawy and one hit the crossbar.
Amr Elsolia doubled the lead for the hosts in the 57th sliding in after Esperance backline failed to clear off Walid Soliman’s cross from the right.
Read also: CAF Champions League Final: Al Ahly and Esperance battle for supremacy
Esperance continued piling pressure for a goal and their efforts paid just after the hour-turn when Youcef Belaili sped off to meet a long pass, looped over an advancing El Shanawy but the keeper knocked him down with the referee pointing to the spot. The striker stepped up and planted the ball in the net.
Walid Soliman converted two penalties for Al Ahly in the first leg of the Caf Champions League final against Esperance.
Esperance defender Chemmam caused the third penalty of the game deep with fourteen minutes remaining when he elbowed Azaro in an off-the-ball incident with the referee pointing to the spot. A second look into the video confirmed his action. Soliman sent the ball in to restore the two-goal advantage ahead of the return leg next week in Rades.
The overall winner of the Total CAF Champions League final will take home a cool US$ 2.5 million and take part in the club world cup in December. The return leg is set for next weekend.
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