Ahmed Samir Farag scored twice as Ismaili avoided another Egyptian upset on Saturday after defeating Reunion Island's US Tamponnaise 3-1 at home in the first leg of the Champions League round of 32. Ismaili's early pressure paid dividends when left wing-back Farag opened the scoring after 17 minutes. Tamponnaise's Moroccan forward Mohamed El Magadarhi leveled the score on 33 minutes to stun the home crowd. Ismaili wasted a host of clear-cut opportunities until striker Mohamed Mohsen Abou-Greisha, who could have shouldered the blame for a possible stumble, made amends in the 71st minute to restore the hosts' advantage. Farag scored his second of the night with ten minutes remaining to give Ismaili, who missed several key players due to injuries, a convincing first-leg advantage. Earlier on Saturday, Cairo giants Ahli suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat at Zimbabwe's Gunners, risking a stunning Champions League exit from the preliminary round.
Abou-Greisha atoned for missed chances Farag put Ismaili ahead when he lifted a free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner past the motionless keeper. Tamponnaise scored an unexpected goal 12 minutes before the break when a cross found the unmarked El Magadarhi at the far post to head home. "We eased off and thought the match was easy after scoring the opener," Ismaili striker Ahmed Ali, who missed the game through suspension, said. Ismaili laid siege to Tamponnaise's area in the second half but lacked the killer instinct. Abou-Greisha, who squandered some goalscoring opportunities earlier in the game, finally broke the visitors' resistance when his far-post effort after a cross from substitute Abdoulaye Coulibaly hit the keeper's hand and found the net. Farag wrapped up the victory on 80 minutes with a powerful low shot from the edge of the area.
