Two strikes from talented Egyptian Mohamed Abotrika were enough to grant Al-Ahly a 2-1 win over club America. With this win, Al-Ahly ended the competition in a prestigious 3rd place after Barcelona and Internacional.
Abotrika gave Ahly the lead from a splendid free kick in the 41st minute and added his 2nd after a one-two with Flavio in the 79th minute.
Follow up:
Ahli dominated the first ten minutes with Emad Meteb earning an early corner-kick and Flavio sending a powerful drive wide from long distance.
Goalkeeper Amir Abdul-Hamid, who started instead of injured Essam Al-Hadari, fell on the ground and needed treatment in the 15th minute.
Flavio was awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area after being clipped from behind.
Abou-Treika stepped up to curl a stinging ball that floated over the wall and past a fully stretched Guillermo Ochoa.
Ahli started the second-half in a defensive mode, leaving the opponents to set their own pace especially after the introduction of Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Blanco pumped blood into his team and, with great skill, he set up Cabanas for the equalizer in the 60th minute.
That was about as good as got for the Mexicans, however, as that man Mohamed Aboutrika showed yet again why he is on the shortlist for the African player of the year. After surging out of midfield and finding Flavio with a pinpoint pass, the mercurial playmaker latched on to the Angolan's return ball and calmly slotted the ball past Ochoa for his third goal of the tournament.
There was no way back for America.
Flavio almost added a third for Al Ahly but saw his delicious chip sail just over the bar. No matter. Manuel Jose's men held on comfortably in the dying seconds, and the broad smiles on his players' faces as they proudly sported their bronze medals told the story. Al Ahly had gone one better than they did in 2005 and third place was all theirs.
Related Articles: World Cup Special: Flavio first Angolan ever to score in World Cup Finals | Ahly vs Auckland (game pictures). | Ahly vs Auckland(Game Videos ).
