Shikabala sends Zamalek three points clear

A late free-kick from Shikabala sends Zamalek three points clear at the top of the league following a 3-2 win over Arab Contractors on Saturday

A superbly-struck free kick from Mahmoud Abdel-Razek ‘Shikabala' two minutes from time helped Zamalek move three points clear of Ahly at the top of the Egyptian Premier League following a thrilling 3-2 win over Arab Contractors.
The match looked as though it was heading for a draw but the league's top scorer Shikabala notched his 12th goal to end the brave resistance of relegation-threatened Contractors, who played with ten men in the last eight minutes following the dismissal of defender Saad Samir.
Left-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafy gave Zamalek the lead with a fine volley in the first-half's additional time but Contractors midfielder Mohamed El-Nenni levelled the score 12 minutes after the interval.
Algerian forward Mohamed Aoudia, who joined Zamalek in January, scored his first league goal for the club few moments after replacing the ineffective Ahmed Gaafar to restore the White Knights' advantage.
El-Nenni netted his second of the night from the spot to make it 2-2 on 75 minutes but Shikabala, who also created Aoudia's goal, broke Contractors hearts to boost Zamalek's hopes of claiming the league title for the first time since 2004.
The leaders have 46 points, three ahead of arch-rivals and defending champions Ahly, who were held to a 2-2 draw by El-Entag El-Harby on Friday.
Zaki impact
Injury-plagued Amr Zaki, who recently recovered from a niggling knee complaint, was included in Zamalek's starting line-up after producing a fine performance when introduced as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 victory over Smouha.
He partnered Ahmed Gaafar upfront but repeatedly drifted back to act as a deep-lying forward, distributing neat passes to the right and left flanks.
Chances were few and far between in the first-half although neither side was really cautious.
Zamalek's central defender Mahmoud Fathallah had an early chance when his close-range shot was blocked by Contractors keeper Mohamed El-Akabawy following a goal-mouth scramble.
The hosts could have also gone ahead in the fifth minute when a cross-cum-shot from lively midfielder Mohamed Salah was tipped over by Zamalek keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed.
Gaafar had a goal disallowed for a foul in the 39th minute but Abdel-Shafy made amends just before the break to send Zamalek fans into ecstasy.
An overhead kick by fellow defender Amr El-Safty found the unmarked Abdel-Shafy at the far post to superbly chest the ball and volley home with his weaker right foot.
Glaring miss
Zamalek, helped by some pinpoint crosses and passes from the energetic Zaki, mounted pressure early in the second half but failed in their attempts to double the advantage and were guilty of a glaring miss by Gaafar nine minutes after the restart.
Zaki picked him out with a precise cross that eluded El-Akabawy but his attempted volley astonishingly went over the bar with the goal gaping as Zamalek were made to pay for the wasted effort in the 57th minute.
El-Nenni was given too much space to fire a swerving long-range shot that wrong-footed El-Sayed and gave Contractors the equalizer.
Zamalek regained their lead in the 72nd minute when Aoudia made an instant impact following his introduction, capitalizing on a mis-timed jump by El-Akabawy to head home a deep free-kick from Shikabala.
However, Contractors restored parity three minutes later when El-Nenni converted a penalty after El-Safty needlessly brought down an opponent when both were contesting a cross.
They had defender Samir sent off in the 82nd minute for a second bookable offense and Zamalek pounced on their numerical advantage to hit the precious winner with two minutes remaining.
Fans favourite Shikabala arrowed a vicious free kick into the far corner of the net from the edge of the area as Zamalek claimed an invaluable victory over a brave Contractors side.