The Red Devils couldn’t have started the game in a better manner. Giving offensive freedom to Ahmed Hassan, Barakat and Gilberto behind Abou-Treika and Flavio, it was clear that coach Manuel Jose told his players was keen on securing an early lead. The result was a fast flowing football which proved too much to handle for the Coton defense.
Ahli do score early in many of their Champions League games. However, the difference this time around was the team's ability to keep on pushing forward after the two goals with the same hunger they had at the start of the tie.
More importantly, and rather than the cautious defense Ahli tend to adopt upon taking the lead in some big games, Jose didn’t throw in more defensive midfielders or even ask his players to slow dow the pace. The attacking approach made wonders and if it wasn’t for bad luck, the score line could have easily been 3 or 4 nil.
For once, Ahmed Hassan was finally allowed to play full 90 minutes and he was influential as he controlled the center of the pitch, and when Sayed Moawad was brought in, it was only to rest Gilberto who ran his lungs out for nearly 80 minutes.
Neither the Portuguese coach nor the players can be blamed for the golden opportunities wasted in the second half. Each player was giving 100% and in any other day these chances would have gone in.
Ahli's solid display made the game look easy and that's why some were not satisfied with just a 2-0 win. However, we still need to remember that this was a Champions League final, and a two-goal advantage is a result Ahli could not achieve in the quarter or the semi finals.
Now we need to give credit to Jose and his players, and just wish that the team can stick to even glimpses of the attacking football they showed in Cairo Stadium on Sunday. If they do that, they can easily overcome Coton and win their sixth Champions League trophy.