CAF Champions League: Al Ahly and Percy Tau overpower Espérance Tunis

The most successful club (10) in CAF Champions League history has opened up a clear path to a second consecutive final. Their trip to Tunis was a model of control and game management. The gulf between Al Ahly and Espérance Tunis in this Friday's first-leg semi-final of the CAF Champions League leaves the Espérance faithful with little hope going into the return leg.

An Al Ahly masterclass

Played behind closed doors because of the heavy sanction handed down by the CAF after the crowd trouble in the quarter-final against JS Kabylie, Al Ahly's players made the most of that decision to inflict a heavy defeat on the Tunisians. With the stands eerily cold, the Cairo side chilled the pitch too, taking the lead as early as the 8th minute through the experienced Percy Tau. Released down the right, the South African international did not hesitate to shoot and forced a mistake from Espérance Tunis goalkeeper Debchi. At the other end, the Sang et Or pushed forward to try to get back into the game, with almost every attack going down their left to look for a way through. Despite their possession, the Espérance players ran into a compact team block that gave the Tunisians no space. Goalkeeper El Shenawy was hardly troubled.

Back from the dressing rooms for the second half, Al Ahly were more enterprising, realising there was room to put the tie out of reach. It was time for the man of the match, Percy Tau, to take charge. The Bafana Bafana player showed off his talent and class with every touch, always precise with his passes and his switches of play. In the 55th minute, Percy Tau shone again on the right, cutting inside with a body feint that left his markers rooted to the spot, as if he had managed to paralyse them, before finishing calmly. A second goal that hit Espérance Tunis like a sledgehammer. Outplayed in every department and unable to create any real chances, the Sang et Or lost their shape and threw themselves into the lion's den. With huge gaps offered up, Al Ahly's players did not hold back in killing off any suspense. On a textbook counter-attack, Shahat delivered a perfect ball to the far post for striker Kahraba, ending the Tunisians' hopes.

Read more on the same subject: Espérance Tunis: Sang et Or under pressure

Al Ahly's superb performance on Espérance Tunis's pitch allows them to approach the return leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final with total calm. They have one foot in the CAF Champions League final and can dream of an 11th continental title. For the Sang et Or, it will probably take the greatest performance in their history to believe in a possible turnaround. In Cairo's national stadium, few people would put money on such a scenario.