CAIRO: Zamalek cruised to a 2-0 victory over a largely unrecognizable Ahly side Monday night, their first victory over the Egyptian champions in eight encounters.
With the league already decided in Ahly’s favor, there was only pride to play for at the National Stadium, though that is a priceless commodity when it comes to this rivalry.
With Ahly manager Manuel Jose absent, and many of their first team players rested ahead of upcoming Egyptian Cup and African Champions League games – among them Mohamed Baraka, Aboutrika and Flavio – the Ahly fans were tempting fate as they baited their Zamalek counterparts with an enormous flag celebrating the fifth anniversary of their famous 6-1 derby victory in 2002.
And Zamalek controlled most of the early play, creating a number of chances in the opening 25 minutes.
A Zamalek free kick from the edge of the box drew a fine save from Ahly’s stand-in keeper Amir Abdul-Hamid on eight minutes, before Gamal Hamza headed straight at the goalkeeper from five yards when it looked easier to score.
As the game settled it looked like Zamalek’s profligacy would allow Ahly to hold on at 0-0 until half-time.
But Mahmoud Abdul-Razeq ‘Shikabala,’ the architect of much of Zamalek’s attacking play throughout, picked up on an Ahmed El-Sayed defensive error and rounded the defense to play in a sublime cross to Tamer Abdul-Hamid at the back post who tapped in from close range, giving the ‘Whites’ a deserved lead going into the break.
The second half began much as the first had concluded, with Zamalek enjoying the lion’s share of possession.
Only one minute in Zamalek were awarded a penalty when Wael Gomaa brought down Wissem El Abdi inside the box. Wael Qabani stepped up but his weak effort was saved by Abdul-Hamid.
Zamalek almost made amends minutes later when Shikibala flighted in a deft cross only for Hamza to direct his header wide of the post.
Ahly were emboldened by Zamalek’s repeated failure to finish their chances and began to push forward, but were limited to corners and free-kicks by a robust Zamalek defense.
And they were made to pay on the hour mark when Zamalek doubled their lead, Aboul Ela’s curling cross from the right flank finding the head of Hamza, who finished with aplomb.
Just as it looked like Ahly’s resistance was crumbling Ahmed Sedik, who had come on as a substitute, squandered a gilt-edge opportunity after he rounded Mohamed Abdul-Monsef only for his shot to be cleared off the line by Amr Al-Safti.
Ahly mounted a late charge but Zamalek held on for a richly deserved, if long-awaited, victory over their greatest rivals.
