Zamalek moved top of the Egyptian Premier League with a narrow 1-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Masry on Tuesday, thanks to another piledriver from in-form midfielder Emam Ashour. Ashour, who also scored two superb goals in Zamalek's 3-0 win over Talae El-Geish on Saturday, let fly with a swerving 25-meter shot that nestled into the far corner of the net after the keeper got a slight touch to it. The 22-year-old continued his recent impressive run after deputizing for Tunisian holding midfielder Ferjani Sassi, who remains out of favour as he stalls on signing a new deal. Zamalek's fourth straight win lifted them to the summit with 16 points, three ahead of defending champions Ahly who can move level on top if they beat El-Entag El-Harby later in the day. Masry, whose six-match unbeaten start to the league came to an end, are fourth on 10 points. Masry proved a tough nut to crack in the first half, with Zamalek struggling to carve out openings without a recognized striker. Zamalek's only meaningful chance fell to Moroccan forward Achraf Bencharki, whose bicycle kick went over the bar on 40 minutes following a right-wing cross from Tunisian fullback Hamza Mathlouthi. Masry also had chances of their own through shots from winger Omar Kamal and Congolese forward Kazadi Kasengu that went just wide. Ashour made the difference in superb fashion in the 55th minute, cutting inside two challengers before firing a ferocious shot past the keeper's despairing dive. Masry could not find a way back and Zamalek could have extended their lead in the latter stages, with Bencharki having a goal disallowed for offside and substitute Osama Faisal heading against the bar from a Mathlouthi cross. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
