Al-Ahly moved further clear in third place with a 2:0 victory over Masr in the Premier League on Thursday. The visitors took control early and never looked back, with Bencharki opening the scoring just before the half-hour mark and Mohamed adding a second after the break. The result leaves Masr rooted at the bottom of the table after two games.
Bencharki struck first in the 21st minute, finding space to put away a well-worked chance. Al-Ahly held their nerve after that, and Mahmoud picked up a yellow card in the 24th minute as the hosts pushed for an equaliser. The visitors had the deeper squad, and that showed when they brought on Messi and Ezz for the second half.
Mohamed doubled the advantage in the 61st minute, finishing a move that caught Masr cold. By then the game was effectively over, though Masr refused to go away quietly. Substitutions came thick and fast on both sides, with Al-Ahly bringing on Mohamed and Mahmoud in quick succession, while Masr tried to find something from the bench.
The statistics tell a straightforward story. Al-Ahly registered seven shots on target to Masr's three, and converted their chances more efficiently. The visitors also won the battle in the air and at the corners, four to three, though the difference was more in quality than quantity.
Masr remain on one point from two games, sitting 17th in the standings. Al-Ahly have six points after two wins, and the gap between the two sides is now significant. The Derby did not produce drama, but it produced exactly what the visitors needed.