Al Ahly Surges Past Ceramica Cleopatra to Reach the Egyptian Super Cup Final

First Half Recap

Al Ahly grabbed a thrilling 3-1 win over Ceramica Cleopatra in the Egyptian Super Cup semi-final, staged at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Under Danish coach Jes Thorup, the Reds took the initiative early and looked to stamp their authority on the game, while Ceramica pushed back with disciplined pressing and sharp transitions.

The deadlock was broken in the 19th minute as Mahmoud Hassan, better known as Trezeguet, nodded home a well-placed cross to put Al Ahly ahead. Ceramica answered with urgency, pushing forward on the break and testing the Al Ahly defense. In the 41st minute, Marwan Osman rose highest to head in an equalizer from a left-sided delivery, sending the teams into a tight half-time with the standings level.

Both sides created chances, but the defining moment of the half came when Gradisar, the Slovenian forward, arrived late in the box and finished a well-worked move to restore the lead for the Red Devils. The referee Mahmoud El Bana kept a steady grip on a lively encounter as the teams headed to the break with a sense that the game could swing either way.

The opening visuals suggested a balance of intensity and nerves; tactically, Ceramica’s midfield duo of Belhaj and Suliya tried to squeeze space, while Al Ahly leaned on their experience to control the ball and manage transitions more cleanly after regaining possession.

Second Half Breakthrough

The momentum shifted decisively after the restart as Gradisar completed his brace with a header in the 52nd minute, finishing off a left-wing move that involved Trezeguet and Zizo. Ceramica pressed to restore parity, but Al Ahly’s defence steadied the ship and the midfield relayed possession with patience, nullifying several quick attacks.

Al Ahly’s substitutions—pushing fresh legs into the attack and tightening the backline—helped them sustain pressure and blunt Ceramica’s late push. The final minutes saw Ceramica try to force mistakes while the Reds preserved their advantage, and the whistle confirmed a 3-1 victory for the visitors from Cairo.

In the end, Al Ahly earned their spot in the final, set for Sunday, where they will meet the winner of Zamalek vs. Pyramids. Ceramica will play the third-place match against the semifinal loser, reflecting a competitive, if imperfect, display from both teams.

Punchline: If football were a sniper’s joke, Al Ahly just parked the cross and took the target—header, scoreline, and all—right in the heart of Ceramica’s defense.

Punchline: The only thing sharper than Gradisar’s finish? The way Al Ahly’s tactical tweaks quietly whispered, ‘we’re not out of this yet,’ before the final whistle landed.