Zamalek make light of backroom problems to beat Degla in league opener

Reigning champions Zamalek open the 2015-16 league campaing with a 2-0 home win against Wadi Degla

Zamalek seemed far from affected by the troubles that engulfed the club during the past week, as they prevailed 2-0 against a resilient Wadi Degla side in the Egyptian league opener on Wednesday.
A fifth-minute goal from wide forward Mahmoud 'Kahraba' gave the reigning champions the lead, before another frontman in Mohamed Salem made it two in the second half for his debut Zamalek goal.
The match witnessed a red card in its final minutes, when ex-Zamalek striker Ahmed Ali received a second booking for dissent.
Zamalek fans have been particularly concerned during the past week following the unrest that hit the club in the wake of a 3-2 Super Cup defeat by arch-rivals Ahly on Thursday.
Following the match, club chairman Mortada Mansour came out to announce that manager Jesualdo Ferreira, who guided the club to a historic double for the first time since 28 years, will not continue at the Zamalek helm.
But now the Whites ' faithful will hope things would get back to normal after their club bagged the first three points of the league campaign.
Kahraba early opener
Zamalek brilliantly managed to get around Wadi Degla's intense pressure early on, and it didn't take them long to open the scoring through Kahraba.
Full-back Sherif Alaa, who did not quite impress in the left-back zone, intercepted a ball played from the Degla defense to their midfield, before passing the ball to Ayman Hefni who threaded a silky through ball to Kahraba on the half-turn.
The former Luzern forward lived up to the occasion as he broke clear on goal before beating ex-Egypt keeper Essam El-Hadari at the near post.
Kahraba was Zamalek's best performer in the first period, with Degla doing little to deny him space, while Hefni seemed to make no major contribution other than the assist for the opener.
But it was both Omar Gaber and Maarouf Yusuf who superbly linked with midfield with attack with their surging runs, and a through ball from the former sent right-back Ahmed Tawfik clear on goal before dragging his shot wide.
On the other end, Degla still posed threat and keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi was called into action more than once in the last five minutes to keep a clean sheet heading into the dressing room.
Just few minutes into the second half, it was Hadari's turn to deny the hosts – this time thwarting Bassem Morsi's effort delightfully from inside the area.
But Zamalek only managed to double their advantage 14 minutes from the end of regular time, this time through substitute Salem who had already replaced Kahraba on the left.
In-form center-back Ahmed Dwidar, who impressed against Ahly in the Super Cup, did some good job down the right to evade a challenger before setting up Salem who brilliantly slot past El-Hadary at the near post.
And with just few moments left, substitute Ali was handed a red card for a second booking as he did little to help his side narrow the two-goal gap.
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