Defending Egyptian Premier League champions Zamalek have struggled to meet expectations this season and their arch rivals Al Ahly showed no mercy for their hosts on Saturday in Egypt’s biggest derby. Current league leaders Ahly found three goals in the second half to deliver a humiliating 3-0 victory over Zamalek at the Cairo International Stadium, moving the 42-time Egyptian champions four points clear at the top of the table. Mohamed Sherif scored twice and Kahraba tallied the opener for Ahly who were deadly and efficient in attack on the day.
The first half passed without any clear opportunities but Ahly appeared more likely to score against a Zamalek team that are currently in poor form with only three goals in their last five matches. While the first half was mostly an even affair, Ahly increased their level and began to lay siege to The White Castle after halftime and broke through around the hour mark. Hussein El Shahat played an early cross from the right wing to find center midfielder Hamdi Fathi, who chested the ball in the air and nodded it across to Kahraba for a powerful header past Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Awad.
There was not much to separate the teams in terms of chances created but Ahly’s efficiency carried them through with substitute Sherif rediscovering his scoring form. The 2020-21 Premier League’s top scorer came on as a substitute in the 67th minute and scored eight minutes later after Mohamed Hany’s cross ricocheted off Fathi right to the striker who made no mistake with his finish. Sherif reached the fifty-goal mark for Ahly with his first goal and added one more in the 90th minute with a first-time finish on his left foot from an Ali Maâloul cross.
Highlights from the derby match are below as well as the two league matches from Friday.
Scores
Saturday
Zamalek 0-3 Al Ahly
Friday
Ceramica Cleopatra 0-2 Smouha
Al Masry 1-1 Ghazl El Mahalla
Highlights
Zamalek 0-3 Al Ahly
Ceramica Cleopatra 0-2 Smouha
Al Masry 1-1 Ghazl El Mahalla