Match Centre

Al Ittihad's 2-0 victory was justified by superior shot conversion despite AL Masry's 62% ball possession. The hosts registered 16 shots (5 on target) but were undone by defensive errors, conceding an own goal from Baher El Mohamady (58') and a late breakaway finish from John Okoye Ebuka (90+5'). Masry's territorial advantage (12 corners to 2) and higher shot volume (16 vs 9) masked poor final-third execution, while Ittihad maximised limited opportunities with 4 shots on target from just 9 attempts.

Discipline proved costly for Masry, collecting three yellow cards including two in the first half that disrupted their buildup rhythm. Ittihad's compact 4-2-3-1 absorbed pressure effectively, restricting Masry to only 31% of shots from inside the box reaching the target (5/13). The telling statistic was Ittihad's 44% shot accuracy (4/9) compared to Masry's 31% (5/16), underlining the visitors' superior decision-making in transition.