An outstanding Zamalek bounced back from last week's surprise 2-1 defeat to Maqassa to take a huge stride towards their first Egyptian league title in since 2004 after battering Ismaily 3-0 at Petrosport Stadium on Monday. A seventh-minute goal from fit-again Egypt striker Bassem Morsi paved the way for another two, with in-form midfielders Ahmed Tawfik and Maarouf Yussuf scoring either side of the interval. It was an exceptional display from the Nigerian Maarouf, who was unexpectedly included in the starting XI, having created his side's second before making sure of victory himself after the break. Zamalek now have 80 points on top of the league table, as they just need only 4 points from their upcoming four games to win their 12th domestic league title. Zamalek batter the Dervishes Zamalek came on firing on all cylinders from the outset, and needed just a few minutes to open the scoring to assert their domination. A pinpoint cross from livewire right-back Hazem Emam was controlled by Morsi inside the area, before the striker tricked a defender as he turned to unleash a stunning strike that beat veteran keeper Essam El-Hadari at the near post. But it was just a minute later when Zamalek doubled their lead through midfielder Tawfik, after some fantastic solo effort from the on-fire Maarouf who evaded a handful of defenders before setting up the former in space in front of goal. With Zamalek coming close on several occasions in a game they clearly controlled, Ismaily came close from scoring in the 34th minute through Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Banahene if it wasn't for a magnificent piece of goalkeeping from Ahmed El-Shennawi. Yussuf then capped his wonderful display with a goal in the 60th minute, dispatching a low shot from outside the area that beat El-Hadary to finish off a counter attack by the Whites. El-Shennawi, however, seemed determined to keep a clean sheet in a game seemingly settled from the beginning when he parried Amr El-Sulaya's powerful strike from outside the box to hand their once-bitter opponents a heavy defeat en route to a long-awaited league trophy. ## (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/134726.aspx
