Al-Ahly pull off Real victory

Cairo - Al-Ahly fans went to the Cairo stadium on Saturday hoping their team would avoid a drubbing at the hands of mighty Real Madrid. But what they got instead was a memorable 1-0 win over the eight-time European Cup champions in a friendly game.

A second-half goal from Nigerian midfielder Sunday, who is known only by his last name, was enough to seal a shock victory in the game played to celebrate the two "teams of the century" - Al-Ahly in Africa and Real Madrid in Europe.

The star-riddled Real Madrid side looked slow and disorganised for most of the game, with the world's most expensive players - Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo - hardly getting a touch.

Zidane's only moment of magic came in the 38th minute as a clever backheel set up a Roberto Carlos shot that ricocheted off the post. That was Real's best chance in a lacklustre first half in which Al-Ahly foiled Real's few attacks on goal. As the game progressed, Al-Ahly players began to gain confidence and threaten the Real goal.

Khaled Bibo wasted Al-Ahly's best chance of the half when his first-time volley went over the bar in the 39th minute.

Al-Ahly opened the second half with an unexpected bombshell. Five minutes in, forward Alaa Ibrahim picked up the ball on the edge of the area and weaved his way through the Madrid defence.

Ibrahim dribbled past goalkeeper Cesar and laid the ball to Sunday on the edge of the six-metre area. Sunday coolly slotted it home to send the crowd into a frenzy.

Real put everything into attack and came close to equalising in the 22nd minute when Raul Gonzales' header went centimetres over the bar. Al-Ahly twice had chances to double its lead.

Al-Ahly paid Real Madrid $1,5-million (about R14-million) to appear and chartered an EgyptAir plane to bring the players here. The team returned home on Sunday. - Sapa-AP