Abdel-Wahed blunder costs Zamalek against Ismaily

Zamalek pay for a poor piece of goalkeeping by veteran keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed to hand Ismaily all three points

Zamalek's Egyptian Premier League title hopes were dealt a blow after slumping to a 1-0 away victory to Group B rivals Ismaily, thanks to a horrific blunder by Egypt keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed.
League top-scorer John Antwi took his tally to 11 goals this season when he capitalised on an Abdel-Wahed fumble 17 minutes into the second half to win the game for his side.
It is the second victory for the Dervishes over Zamalek this season, who were also condemned to a 1-0 home loss to their bitter rivals in the first half of the season.
Ismaily now leapfrogged Zamalek to second spot, which earns qualification for the final mini-league phase, on 30 points as Zamalek slipped to fourth with 28.
Insipid half, late Zamalek chances
Zamalek manager Mido fielded the same starting line-up he deployed in the recent win over Qanah, but this time midfield duo Omar Gaber and Ahmed Tawfik were not able to retain possession effectively against their group rivals.
Even so, the first chance of the match fell to full-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafy, whose header was tipped over by the keeper after seven minutes from kick off.
Five minutes later, the hosts could have well broken the deadlock after Mahmoud Hamad was released by Hosni Abd-Rabou's set piece on the left handside of the area but the former's inviting cross found no one.
Newly-signed Ismaily forward Mohamed Zika then missed the target from the edge of the area before Zamalek defender Mahmoud Fathallah was at the center of two chances that could have easily put his side in front.
On 38 minutes, Egypt center half Fathallah was unlucky to see a thunderous long-range free kick ricochet off the bar before striking narrowly wide from close range on the stroke of half time.
Abdel-Wahed howler
Zamalek looked much better after the break but it was Zika who posed real threat on goal from point-blank range but keeper Abdel-Wahed came to his side's rescue.
Abdel-Wahed, however, was guilty of a horrendous gaffe when he spilled a cross from substitute Ibrahim Hassan, who scored the sole goal against Zamalek in the first half of the season, into the path of Antwi, who easily tapped home from six yards.
After substituting winger Mostafa Fathy by Dominique da Silva minutes before the goal, Mido – who was forced to replace the injured Gaber by Nour El-Sayed in the first half - threw in young forward Youssef Ibrahim 'Obama' instead of Tawfik.
Zamalek dominated the remaining minutes of the half in search of a crucial leveler with Ismaily sitting back to protect their slender lead but struggled to carve out genuine goal-scoring opportunities.
Wingers Emam and Dominique launched forays down their respective flanks but the rare presence of forwards inside the box usually rendered their efforts useless as Ismaily held on to seal the precious three points.
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