It is understandable that following the emphatic sixth CAF Champions League triumph earlier in the month, getting beaten by a team struggling at the lower half of the Egyptian league was very hard to take.
No team like to lose anyway, especially a league defeat for Ahli, which over he last few years has become something nearly impossible to happen.
As usual, head coach Manuel Jose was no where near the post game press conference, typical of him whenever Ahli lose. Anyway, assistant coach Hossam Al-Badri was very quick to point out that the referee cost Ahli the three points.
Al-Badri blamed the official for disallowing Flavio’s early goal, for granting Police a ‘fake’ winning penalty-kick, not protecting Ahli players against Police’s aggression and disregarding a ‘deserved’ spot-kick when Abou-Treika asked for it.
Amir Abdul-Hamid’s tackle on Mohamed Yehia was very reckless and inexperienced; I personally believe Police’s spot-kick was a just one. Nonetheless I’d still give the benefit of the doubt for some who think otherwise.
As for Flavio’s goal, it should have stood, he wasn’t offside, and Ahmed Hassan also was onside, even if the latter was not, we could see that he didn’t interfere in the process.
I agree that an early goal could have changed the whole game’s outcome, but considering all of that, we have to say that Ahli had a very bad game.
Very few real scoring chances were created by Jose’s men. All players looked out of form and sorts. Police and their coach Talaat Youssef should also be given credit. Just like what they did against Ismaili, they defended perfectly throughout the game and scored from the few opportunities they had.
So why can’t Ahli officials - for once - come out and congratulate an opponent for beating them, and admit that their team wasn’t up to the standard?
A club in Ahli’s calibre should take defeats more professionally. I know they got used to winning every single game they play – even with mediocre performances – but that doesn’t mean that they should blame refereeing for their mistakes.
Besides, losing once every now and then wouldn’t underestimate Ahli’s massive status or even their competency for the Egyptian league, so why are they making such a fuss about the Police game’s official?