Unbeaten Ahli widened the gap with arch-rivals Zamalek after Enppi ended their eight-match winning run, reports Ahmed Morsy Zamalek slipped up against Enppi after their 2-1 defeat in the Egyptian domestic football league on Friday to miss out on a chance to leapfrog past leaders Ahli. Not only did Zamalek lose ground but failed to avenge their loss to Enppi in the Egypt Cup final last year, and could not lengthen their eight-match unbeaten run in the league. Their last defeat was a 2-1 loss to Police Union in November. On the other hand, title holders Ahli, the only national league team yet to taste defeat, moved four points clear of Zamalek after a 2-0 home victory over Arab Contractors the following day. Surprise outfit Haras Al-Hedoud, who have won 11 straight games, will recover their position on the top,a point ahead of Ahli, if they beat Ittihad of Alexandria in a rescheduled match on Tuesday. Zamalek, who are chasing their first league title since 2004, took the lead in the second half thanks to striker Ahmed Gaafar who met a long pass from goalie Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed with a fierce first-time shot that zoomed into the roof of the net. But, Enppi, under the supervision of their newly-appointed coach Hossam El-Badri, levelled the score when Ahmed Raouf scored in the 73rd minute. Raouf pounced on the failure of the Zamalek defence to clear a free kick to fire a sidekick volley past the frozen El-Sayed. With just 10 minutes remaining, Ahmed Abdel-Zaher scored the winner when he finished off a swift move for a low shot from the edge of the area. Following the three precious point loss, Zamalek fans vented their anger on the veteran coach Hassan Shehata. They poured out chants for Shehata to leave and in reaction he indicated with his hands that he will meet their demands. Shehata reportedly did not lead the team's practice the following day. The job fell to assistant coach Ismail Youssef. However, Zamalek Vice President Raaouf Gaser asserted that the club board was fully committed to Shehata, denying any possibility that Shehata will leave his post. "Shehata's gesture was out of momentary anger after seeing the opponents score two goals," Gasser was quoted as saying by the club's official website. "I am confident that Shehata will not leave us in this critical period of the domestic league, as the team is to play crucial games on their way to the tournament's title. "The board has full confidence in the technical staff and players, and our fans must support them to resume our successful campaign," Gasser added. In a bizarre incident, the match was disrupted in the second minute when Zamalek fans threw a handful of plastic footballs onto the pitch. Although the game was resumed after Enppi and Zamalek players kicked the balls away, the referee had to stop the match again a few moments later after the Ultras White Knights (UWK) of Zamalek repeated the odd act. The symbolic gesture was apparently related and consistent with UWK waving banners criticising the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for planning to apply a professional league system next season which will abide by the statutes of football's world governing body FIFA. Opponents say the EFA is unprepared for such a move. In the same match, a Zamalek supporter ran onto the pitch late in the game. He was quickly ushered out by players and security personnel. The incident was a reminder of recent full-fledged pitch invasions which have dogged the league season. The disruptions have come in the wake of a weak police presence in stadiums following the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak as president. In a related development, UWK called for a cease-fire with the Ultras Ahlawi (UA) of Ahli to avoid more carnage after the two groups clashed on Saturday following Ahli's game with the Arab Contractors. "We request an end to the bloodshed and to settle and unite for the sake of Egypt," said a statement on UWK's official Facebook page. The UA replied with a smiley face symbol signalling their agreement. Ten-man Ahli, who are bidding for an eighth successive league title, beat Arab Contractors 2-0 after two goals from Mohamed Nagi, better known as Gedo, and Ahmed Fathi. Ahli dominated the first half due to the lively playmaker Abdullah El-Said and in-form Mauritanian striker Dominique Da Silva as well as winger Walid Suleiman. Both had more than a goal denied by Arab Contractors keeper and former teammate Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud who produced a superb display. In the 31st minute, Da Silva made up for the squandered opportunities when he set up Gedo for the opener to let him slot home with aplomb. In the second half, Ahli were awarded a penalty after El-Sayed Hamdi, who replaced Da Silva, tumbled in the area following a challenge from a Contractors defender. Fathi stepped up to blast the ball into the roof of the net though Aboul-Saoud got a hand to it. Regarding the Cairo derby between Ahli and Zamalek, the EFA announced on Saturday that it will be delayed one day, now to be played on 8 February, upon a request from Egyptian security authorities. The EFA said security officials had asked for the rescheduling so that they could handle security demands during the Shura Council elections. The derby was initially set for 29 January but was rescheduled to 7 February because the 16th round of the Egyptian Premier League had also been moved forward at the request of the Interior Ministry which said it would be busy "safeguarding the state's facilities on the first anniversary of the 25 January", as well as the first session of the post-revolution People's Assembly held on 23 January.
