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The South African strategist planned a victory from behind over Al Ittihad as he continued his dream start in Egypt.
Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly secured a 2-1 win against Al Ittihad Alexandria Club in the 2019/20 Egypt Cup semi-final at New Suez Stadium on Tuesday night.
Razack Cisse gave the Masters of the City the advantage, but two second-half goals from Mohamed Magdy Afsha and Hamdy Fathi gave the Red Devils victory.
Mosimane was eager to keep Al Ahly’s hopes of achieving a treble in the 2019/20 season alive with the Red Devils who had already lifted the Egyptian Premier League and Caf Champions League titles.
The Cairo giants oozed confidence after securing a 2-1 victory against arch rival Zamalek to clinch the ninth Champions League trophy on Friday night.
El Al Ahly came to their clash with Al Ittihad hoping to join Tala’a El-Gaish in the Egypt Cup final after the Army Vanguards upset Zamalek 3-1 in a semi-final match on Tuesday afternoon.
Mosimane made a change to the team that faced Zamalek when Angolan winger Geraldo replaced Nigerian international Junior Ajayi.
Ajayi had been injured in the win over the White Knights and the center forward was not part of the match day squad.
Al Ahly should have opened the scoring through Marwan Mohsen, but the towering forward put his effort over the bar from close range and Al Ittihad survived a scare.
The Red Devils were forced to regret the missed opportunity when the Masters of the City broke the deadlock four minutes into the half hour.
Razack Cisse was the man to beat Mohamed El Shenawy in Al Ahly’s goal to make Al Ittihad 1-0 with Marwan Attia providing an assist.
Al Ittihad then contained Al Ahly and took a 1-0 lead against Mosimane’s team during the halftime break.
Mosimane made a double substitution before the start of the second half when he introduced attackers Taher Mohamed and Salah Mohsen.
Mohamed should have had an immediate impact when he hit a Hussein El-Shahat cross, but the 23-year-old missed the goal from close range.
El Al Ahly continued to launch attacks and managed to level things out and it was their hero from the Champions League final, Afsha, who found the back of the net.
The 24-year-old midfielder scored with great effort to make it 1-1 in the 72nd minute, four days after scoring the winning goal against Zamalek.
The momentum was with the Red Devils in the later stages of the match and Fathi sealed Al Ahly’s 2-1 victory when he scored with a header in the 89th minute.
Al Ahly will now face Tala’a El-Gaish in the Egypt Cup final, while Al Ittihad left the tournament.
