Zamalek produced a vivid attacking display to earn a 2-1 comeback victory over Petrojet in the Egyptian Premier League on Saturday and ensure the shocking departure of coach Jaime Pacheco would not derail their impressive run. Portuguese boss Pacheco unilaterally terminated his contract after apparently growing increasingly frustrated with chairman Mortada Mansour's interference in the team affairs, leaving Zamalek in a delicate position almost halfway through the season as they aim to end a 10-year league drought. Things looked not so promising for interim boss Mohamed Salah, who was Pacheco's assistant, when Petrojet took a 26th-minute lead through Ethiopian forward Shimelis Bekele following a dreadful blunder from stand-in keeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal, who has been hardly convincing since replacing injured shot-stopper Ahmed El-Shennawy. However, diminutive playmaker Ayman Hefni spurred a Zamalek comeback with an all-round display, setting up striker Khaled Qamar for the equaliser on the stroke of halftime before Ahmed Tawfik gave them all three points with a superb 60th-minute drive. Zamalek remained on top of the league table with 37 points, three clear of second-placed ENPPI who were held to a 1-1 draw by Maqassa earlier in the day. Defending champions Ahly are fourth on 27 points but they will close to within a point of Zamalek should they win their three games in hand. Petrojet, who are having a fine run this term, are sixth on 24 points. Keeper error The solid defending that was the highlight of Zamalek's first 15 league games was nowhere to be seen in the first half, with Petrojet exposing some gaps in a four-man backline which sorely missed in-form defender Mohamed Koffi, who joined up with Burkina Faso ahead of the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. Petrojet benefited from an error from Abou-Gabal to go ahead, with a tame angled shot from Bekele squirming under his body and into the bottom corner. Talented playmaker Hefni was Zamalek's liveliest performer but his wayward shots from the edge of the area let him down. However, he made amends one minute before the break when his defence-splitting pass released Qamar, who made no mistake with a low shot to find the net for the second successive game after being criticized for being profligate in the early stages of the season. Zamalek's only natural left-back in their squad, youngster Ahmed Samir, was substituted in the first half after picking up an injury but the hosts were hardly affected as Petrojet eased off after the break to allow their opponents to launch an onslaught. Petrojet's only opportunity fell to James Owoboskini, who cut inside his marker from the left and sent a curling shot that went narrowly wide. Zamalek deservedly went ahead on the hour mark when veteran attacking midfielder Ahmed Eid, who excelled in last week's 2-1 win over Damanhour, found the overlapping Tawfik with a superb back-heel pass to fire in off the post from an acute angle. Hefni continued to cause menace to Petrojet's defence with his mazy runs and catchy feints as Zamalek maintained a firm grip on the game. He spurned two late goal-scoring chances after leaving several defenders trailing in his wake, proving his worth after playing a bit-part role recently under Pacheco. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/119420.aspx
