It's not very common for two opposing coaches to agree on a certain aspect of an Egyptian Premier League game but Ahly and Masry bosses were both relieved following the end of the first clash pitting the two sides against each other since the infamous Port Said disaster. Ahly and Masry shared honours in a 1-1 draw in the Red Sea resort of El-Gouna in a trouble-free game devoid of the normally passionate supporters. A pre-match hype included talks over whether tempers would flare as the bitter foes clashed for the first time since an ugly pitch invasion by Masry's supporters led to the deaths of more than 70 Ahly fans in coastal city Port Said on 1 February 2012. "This was a special and difficult game, and a special week for all of us," Ahly's Spanish coach Juan Garrido, who had urged the die-hard fans to stand by his team after many called on the Red Devils to withdraw from the match, told the post-match news conference. "Our players have been subjected to huge pressure over the past week, but holding this match was important." Garrido's Masry counterpart Jose Maqueda echoed his sentiment, saying that staging the match benefited the country and both clubs. The 2011-2012 league season was called off after the tragedy and the following three seasons were held in an unfamiliar two-group format as Ahly and Masry were deliberately separated. Two of those seasons were also cancelled due to political turmoil. Masry have been banned from playing on their home soil since the Port Said disaster and they are forced to hold their home and away games this term in neighboring Ismailia. However, due to the hostile environment Ahly usually face in Suez Canal cities, Saturday's match took place in the luxury El-Gouna resort. Garrido fuming Garrido was still fuming over talks by Ahly's challengers that the team are being favoured by referees. "I want someone to tell me about a certain incident or a certain game in which we were favoured. I'm angry and bored of the same talks by our competitors," he said, declining to name any specific club. "If this was the case, Masry's goal today would not have been allowed because there was a foul on [defender] Saad Samir in the build-up, and he was injured. "I really don't recall a single incident in which any refereeing decision favoured us." Defending champions Ahly, who are chasing a ninth successive title, are fourth in the table with 28 points, 12 behind leaders and arch-rivals Zamalek. However, they still have three games in hand on their Cairo foes. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/119968.aspx
