Rabia inspires Al Ahly to impressive victory

The second game of the tournament took place at the Al Nahyan Stadium as Al Ahly faced CF Monterrey. Despite being without many first-team players due to Egypt’s continued participation in the AFCON, Al Ahly, inspired by a standout performance from their captain Ramy Rabia, impressed with a strong counter-attacking game and progressed to the semi-final with a 1-0 victory.  

Centre-back Ramy Rabia was selected by our TSG as Man of the Match with a strong performance in front of a large crowd and vocal support. 

For Al Ahly to win the game, it was identified that they would need to be defensively resolute and Rabia made a total of 11 clearances and three blocks during the match. He was ranked first in headed clearances and had six possession contests (two above the average). In possession he broke the lines 15 times. 

Roy Aitken observed the game and commented, "Overall Rabia’s defensive quality stood out. The way he organised his defence and their connection with their midfield and forward players was very impressive. He was always talking to the players around him and was a great communicator. He was a real leader in the team but in key moments he also defended very well. Positionally, he showed great awareness; from crosses, from central attacks and he had a great relationship with his central partner and midfielder. He also dominated in the air and was a key figure in a really excellent team performance."