Ahly maintained their 100 percent record in the Egyptian Premier League and surged seven points clear on top of the table after easing past nearest challengers Arab Contractors with a 2-0 victory on Sunday.

An angled drive from Hussein El-Shahat gave Ahly a first-half lead and substitute Walid Soliman ensured the win with nine minutes remaining.

The Red Devils played the last 15 minutes with ten men after central defender Rami Rabia received his marching orders for a second booking, but they were hardly affected as they continued their relentless march towards a fifth straight title.

Ahly made it 12 wins out of 12 to edge closer to a record they set in the 2004/2005 season when they won their opening 17 matches.

They have maximum 36 points, seven ahead of second-placed Contractors who played two matches more.

Winger El-Shahat opened the scoring after 20 minutes when his shot from a tight angle went in off the post after midfielder Amr El-Sulaya slipped a pass to him on the right hand side of the area.

Contractors adopted a bold approach but they rarely troubled a comfortable Ahly defence that only conceded two goals so far this season.

Ahly’s Nigerian striker Junior Ajayi forced a superb save from Contractors keeper Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud on the stroke of halftime and midfielder Mahmoud Metwalli drilled a low shot just wide from the edge of the area on 64 minutes.

Rabia collected a second booking for kicking the ball away following a foul but Ahly made light of their numerical disadvantage as Soliman scored with a looping header on 81 minutes after a misjudgment from Aboul-Saoud.