Zamalek and hosts Al Ahly played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in Egyptian Premier League action on Sunday at the Al Salam Stadium. Mohamed Sherif put Ahly into the lead before Achraf Bencharki and Zamalek legend Shikabala scored to put the visitors in the lead only for substitute Salah Mohsen to level the match late for Ahly. Zamalek maintain a four-point lead at the top of the table with Pyramids FC two points behind and Ahly four points back with three games still to make up.
The hosts made a bright start to the match and took the lead suddenly in the 12th minute. Ahly center back Ramy Rabia surveyed the pitch and spotted Sherif’s run, playing a long aerial ball towards the Zamalek penalty area. Zamalek center back Mohamed Abdel Ghani failed to deal with the lofted ball and could only head it into the air before Sherif volleyed past goalkeeper Mohamed Awad to send the home support into jubilation.
Ahly went on to look like the more threatening team for the remainder of the first half but Zamalek manager Jesualdo Ferreira had a card up his sleeve and brought on 36-year-old playmaker Shikabala at halftime. Zamalek took control of the match and it was Shikabala who created the leveler in the 68th minute, taking the ball on the right wing and using his favored left foot to pick out Bencharki with a perfect inswinging cross. The Moroccan forward placed his header well beyond Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy who could only watch as the ball nestled in the net.
Less than ten minutes later Shikabala put his team in the lead. Fellow substitute Youssef Osama Nabih embarked on a quick run down the left wing and his low cross was missed by a diving attempt from El Shenawy before Ahly left back Ali Maâloul could only get a weak touch. The ball fell right to a waiting Shikabala who had no issues putting his finish by a desperate dive from Maâloul and put Zamalek into the lead.
Ahly interim manager Samy Komsan put in Taher Mohamed and forward Mohsen to try and save a result and both contributed as Ahly leveled in the 80th minute to earn a point. Only a minute after the two came on, Mohamed found space on the right wing and put in a cross that flicked off the head of Zamalek defender Hossam Abdulmaguid towards the far post where Mohsen’s bouncing header went over the goal line before being slapped away by Awad.
Extended highlights of the Cairo Derby are below.
