First half strikes from Hussein El Shahat and Ramadan Sobhy was enough for Al Ahly to beat El Hilal 2-1 on Friday in Cairo, to boost their chances in Group B.

After an opening lone goal defeat to Etoile du Sahel in Tunis last week, the nine-time winners needed nothing short of victory to reignite their hopes. And they did it in style against a Hilal team that were a pale shadow of themselves.

Ahly got off well with raids into the half of the Sudanese, and it was only a matter of time that the opener would come.

The deadlock was broken on the quarter-hour mark courtesy El Shahat, connecting a Mohamed Magdy Afsha cross that left Hilal goalkeeper Salim Magoola with little option.

It was the Cairo giants all the way and Nigerian-import Junior Ajayi missed a sitter three minutes later which could have doubled his side’s lead. After being put through by Mohamed Hany, the Nigerian fumbled with only Magoola to beat.

Eight minutes before the break, on-form Sobhy doubled the lead for the Red Devils from the spot, after Ajayi was fouled by Hilal captain Abdel Latif Osman in the vital area.

With a two-goal lead, Ahly resumed on the same tempo as Hilal struggled to find their feet.

Few minutes later, midfield marshall Afsha was unlucky to score when Magoola parried his goal bound shot with the ball kissing the crossbar to the relief of the Sudanese giants.

Things turned bad for Hilal in the closing stages when goalkeeper Magoola sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Yonis Altayeb.

In added-on time, Atahir El Tahir reduced the deficit with virtually the last kick of the game but it was little late to help their fortunes.

Following the victory, Ahly has three points same as Hilal and leaders Etoile du Sahel. The latter face FC Platinum of Zimbabwe in the other Group B clash on Saturday in Bulawayo.