Final four

Abu Treika about to score Ahli's lone goal against Petrojet

After wrapping up a sixth consecutive Egyptian Premier League title, and reaching the African Champions League group stage, Ahli continued their winning ways, booking their place in the Egyptian Cup semi-finals after edging Petrojet 1-0 in Cairo Stadium on Sunday.

The league champions meet Military Production in the semi-final of the cup in Cairo today 3 June.

Ismaili and Haras Al-Hedoud meet in the other semis.

Ahli seemingly overcame their toughest opponent in the cup after outclassing Zamalek 3-1 in round 16 as they bid to clinch their 14th domestic double in their history. They have now dispensed with Petrojet which could only finish fourth in the league despite making a very promising start and their woes were compounded when they suffered an early exit from the African Confederation Cup. Going into the cup, they had not defeated Ahli since their promotion in 2006 and suffered two league losses to the Red Devils this season.

Ahli coach Hossam El-Badri made no changes to the side that outclassed Zamalek last week while Petrojet missed talisman Walid Suleiman due to injury.

Mohamed Fadl missed a sitter in the 24th minute when he astonishingly headed Ahmed Hassan's volleyed cross wide from two yards out. Two minutes later, Mohamed Abu Treika's swerving effort was too obvious for Ahmed Fawzi to thwart but Ahli looked close to breaking the deadlock. However, Fawzi made another fine save to deny Sayed Moawad his maiden Ahli goal and ensure the first half ends scoreless.

Seven minutes into the second half, El-Badri made his usual substitution of taking off veteran Ahmed Hassan as Ahmed Fathi was introduced. On the hour mark, Hossam Ashour rattled the crossbar with a rare long-range effort that could have been his first goal in three years.

The six-time African champions and winners of the cup an Egyptian record 35 times got their goal in the 68th minute through the back-in-business Abu Treika.

The midfield talisman finished off a superb team move involving Mohamed Barakat and Fadl, who threaded a fine pass for Treika to dispatch home from 12 yards.

Ahli's defence was caught napping in injury time as substitute Ahmed El-Fouli found himself one-on-one with Sherif Ekrami, only to send the ball wide in what was the miss of the game for Petrojet.

El-Badri sounded a note of caution ahead of their Egyptian Cup semi-final clash with Military Production, saying the game was expected to be pulsating. The match was set up after Military Production defeated Enppi 2-1 in the quarters.

Production secured their first top-flight promotion last summer and were notable in the domestic league, having finished in seventh place.

It was also their first time to reach the Egyptian Cup final four. El-Badri predicted that Military Production will be looking to cause an upset in today's match.

Production surprisingly downed Enppi 2-1 in extra-time after going goalless 90 minutes on Sunday. Production's Sameh Adrous broke the deadlock on 98 minutes upon diverting a Fouad Salama cross into the net.

Enppi striker Vincent Die Foneye restored parity five minutes later when he latched onto an Ahmed El-Muhammadi cross to turn around and score with a close-range clinical finish.

Shortly afterwards Hassan Moussa scored the winner for the Military side with a powerful header, connecting with a Gomaa Mashour corner kick.

Elsewhere, in Saturday's matches, Ismaili had a penalty shootout win over Ittihad in the cup quarter-final.

Ismaili goalie Essam El-Hadari converted the decisive spot kick and prevented Mahmoud Shaker from scoring Ittihad's third penalty to give Ismaili a 5-3 victory and send their fans into raptures.

Both teams drew 1-1 to send the game into a penalty shootout.

The win set up a semi-final meeting between Ismaili and defending cup champions Haras Al-Hedoud who defeated the Arab Contractors 3-1 on the same day.

Ahmed Eid scored twice and won a penalty kick to help Al-Hedoud sink the Contractors.

Eid opened the scoring on 22 minutes after cutting inside his marker to penetrate the area and dink into the far angle with a right-footed effort. He doubled Hedoud's lead eight minutes from the hour mark after heading home an inch- perfect Ahmed Abdel-Ghani cross.

The Egypt international earned the penalty kick which Abdel-Ghani converted in the 90th minute to complete the rout. Hamada El-Sayed had scored the Contractors' only goal 15 minutes from time.

The Egyptian Cup final match is scheduled for 7 May.