Result: Wydad Casablanca 0-2 Al Ahly
Date: 17 October 2020
Venue: Stade Mohamed V
Al Ahly maintained their unbeaten record under Pitso Mosimane with a 2-0 away victory away to Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final.
Mosimane was boosted by the return from injury of key players at the back, goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, left-back Ali Maaloul, centre-back Ayman Ashraf and recalled striker Marwan Mohsen.
Al Ahly had a dream start as Mohamed Magdi opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute with a great finish after pouncing on a defensive error by Wydad.
Miguel Gamondi's charges grew into the game after the half-hour mark and their pressure paid off towards the end of the first stanza as they were awarded a penalty after El-Shanawy brought down Gbagbo Magbi inside the box.
After a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) consulation, Badi Aouk finally stepped up to take the spot-kick but his shot from 12-yards was saved by El-Shanawy, who preserved Al Ahly's lead going to the break.
Al Ahly had a strong start in the second stanza and Maloul eventually gave his side a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute from the penalty spot after a handball by Wydad defender Brahim Najmeddine inside the box.
Mosimane made a tactical change in the last 20 minutes, consolidating a two-goal cushion by bringing on midfielder Geraldo in place of striker Mohsen.
In the end, The Red Devils did enough to hold on to a 2-0 victory, which gives them a big advantage heading into the second-leg next Friday in Cairo.
